Heparin for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and hypercoagulation complications: A cohort study

Abstract

Background: Thrombotic complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are a worrisome aspect of the disease due to their high incidence in critically ill patients and their poor clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (fondaparinux) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypercoagulable complications. Material and methods: The study design used a retrospective cohort approach incorporating pre- and post-tests via secondary data extracted from the medical records of inpatients with confirmed COVID-19. Results: Among the 98 individuals studied (52% women; 30.6% at >60 years of age), 35 patients received UFH, while the remaining 63 patients received LMWH (fondaparinux). The greatest decrease in the D-dimer value (0.01 ± 0.5 g fibrinogen equivalent units/mL) was observed in 12 (34.3%) and 15 (23.8%) patients in the UFH and LMWH (fondaparinux) groups, respectively. Most inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 were aged 50–59 years and were women. Conclusion: There was a tendency toward increased D-dimer, normal prothrombin time, normal activated partial thromboplastin clotting time, and increased fibrinogen values in each COVID-19 patient. The results demonstrated a significant relationship between the D-dimer and prothrombin time parameter in confirmed COVID-19 inpatients. HIGHLIGHTS Most of the hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were >60-years of age and female. Patients in both treatment groups (UFH and LMWH (fondaparinux)) showed a significant decrease in D-dimer values. Both drugs have a similar effectiveness in the treatment of coagulopathy.

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