Venous thromboembolism and major bleeding in severe and critical COVID-19 hospitalized patients

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2023 Jul 5;94(2). doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2023.2617.

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding (MB) are life-threatening complications described in COVID-19 hospitalized patients, and they can be considered two sides of the same coin. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the risk factors for VTE and MB in COVID-19 patients admitted to two Italian hospitals. The medical records of all COVID-19 patients (males 139; 62.3%, mean age 67.2±13.6 years, body weight 88.2±20.6 kg) hospitalized from March 11th to July 31st, 2020, at the Federico II University Hospital and the Sea Hospital, Naples, Italy, were analyzed. The COVID-19 patients were classified into four groups: COVID-19 patients developing VTE and/or MB, COVID-19 patients developing only VTE, COVID-19 patients developing only MB, and COVID-19 patients not developing either VTE or MB. During the hospitalization, 53 COVID-19 patients (24.7%; males 40; 75.5%, mean age 67.2±13.6 years, weight 88.2±20.6 kg) developed VTE, 33 COVID-19 patients (15.3%; males 17; 51.5, mean age 67.3±14.9 years, weight 74.1±14.3 kg) developed MB, and 129 COVID-19 patients did not develop either TVP or MB. No parameters to identify severe COVID-19 complicated by VTE and/or MB were found. However, some clinical and biochemical parameters can be evaluated to predict the risk of MB in order to modify the treatment and take prompt action to reduce mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage* / epidemiology
  • Hemorrhage* / etiology
  • Hospitalization* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / epidemiology
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / etiology