CCCardiol CroatCardiologia CroaticaCardiol. Croat.1848-543X1848-5448Croatian Cardiac SocietyCC 2021 16_1-2_7110.15836/ccar2021.71Extended AbstractPrevalence of non-COVID-19 venous thromboembolism during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: our experiencehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6622-7572SliškovićAna Marija*https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1477-2581PuljevićMislavhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7644-6362ŠutaloAnahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4019-3874BosnićAntehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4538-8980BanfićLjiljanahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1340-1917Vrkić KirhmajerMajdaUniversity of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Ana Marija Slišković, Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. / Phone: +386-99-4089160 / E-mail: sliskovic_anamarija@yahoo.com012021161-2717105122020181220202021Croatian Cardiac SocietyKEYWORDS: venous thromboembolismnon COVID-19 patientsSARS-CoV-2 outbreak
Background: In March 2020 formally declared pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused a global impact on public health. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompassing pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is frequently observed in patients with COVID-19 (1), while the pandemic influence on non COVID-19 VTE prevalence remains unknown. Previous meta -analysis supported an association between regular physical activity and lower risk of VTE when compared with a sedentary or less active lifestyle (2). Aim: to investigate the influence of pandemic circumstances on the prevalence of non COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to VTE.
Patients and Methods: Single centre retrospective analysis of consecutive non COVID-19 patients admitted for VTE was performed. We compared demographic characteristics and diagnostics findings in patients hospitalized for VTE between 1st of March and 31st of October 2019 and non COVID-19 VTE patients hospitalized between the same period in 2020. All patients underwent laboratory tests, venous ultrasonography of the lower limbs and/or CT pulmonary angiography and had negative swab test for SARS-CoV2 at admission. One patient had previously recovered from COVID-19.
Results: During the period of 8 months 70 VTE patients (female 48%, mean age 60.8 ± 17.2 years) were admitted in 2019, while 86 non COVID-19 VTE patients (female 50%, mean age 68.5± 16.8 years) were admitted in 2020. There was no significant difference in prevalence of VTE hospitalization (4.1% vs 5.4%, p=0.106), but patients in 2020 were significantly older (p=0.002). Dividing the VTE cases into isolated PE, isolated DVT and combined DVT+PE we found a significant increase in prevalence of DVT+PE during pandemic (34 vs 36, p=0.23; 23 vs 25, p=0.24 and 13 vs 25, p=0.03, respectively).
Conclusion: During COVID 19 pandemic we observed significant increase in prevalence of hospitalized non COVID-19 patients with combined DVT+ PE but not with isolated PE or isolated DVT. Possible explanation could be a less active lifestyle due to pandemic social restriction recommendation and delaying treatment for initial DVT.
LITERATUREBikdeliBMadhavanMVJimenezDChuichTDreyfusIDrigginEGlobal COVID-19 Thrombosis Collaborative Group. Endorsed by the ISTH, NATF, ESVM, and the IUA, Supported by the ESC Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function. COVID-19 and Thrombotic or Thromboembolic Disease: Implications for Prevention, Antithrombotic Therapy, and Follow-Up: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. . 2020 June 16;75(23):2950–73. 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.03132311448KunutsorSKMäkikallioTHSeiduSde AraújoCGSDeyRSBlomAWPhysical activity and risk of venous thromboembolism: systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. . 2020 May;35(5):431–42. 10.1007/s10654-019-00579-231728878