Background Circle Background Circle
Give Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Blood Thinners

Give Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Blood Thinners

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Giving blood thinners to COVID-19 patients soon after they’re hospitalized could reduce their risk of dying.

That’s the conclusion of a new study that analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on nearly 4,300 patients, average age 68, who were hospitalized with COVID between March 1 and July 31.

Of those, more than 84% received blood thinners within 24 hours of admission — a step called prophylactic anticoagulation.

In the 30 days after admission, the overall death rate was 14.5%.

The death rate was 14.3% among patients who received the blood thinners and 18.7% among those who did not.

The benefit appeared to be greater among patients who weren’t admitted to intensive care within 24 hours of hospitalization.

Researchers said they accounted for other potentially important factors such as patients’ age, ethnicity, underlying health conditions, medication history, weight and tobacco use.

Significantly, patients who received blood thinners didn’t have a higher risk of serious bleeding than those who didn’t receive blood thinners, according to the team led by Christopher Rentsch, an assistant professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in England. The findings were published Feb. 11 in the BMJ.

Some COVID-19 deaths are believed to be caused by blood clots forming in major arteries and veins. Blood thinners prevent clots and have antiviral, and possibly anti-inflammatory, properties.


Clinical trials are being conducted to determine if prophylactic anticoagulation could be an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Until results from those trials are available, this study’s findings “provide strong real world evidence to support guidelines recommending the use of prophylactic anticoagulation as initial treatment for patients with COVID-19 on hospital admission,” Rentsch and his colleagues said in a journal news release.


More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.


SOURCE: BMJ, news release, Feb. 11, 2021



WebMD News from HealthDay



Copyright © 2013-2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Source link

You Might Also Like!
Southern California Is Origin of New COVID-19 Variant
Southern California Is Origin of New COVID-19 Variant

FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A new variant of COVID-19 found in Southern California is coursing across the ENGAGE+

COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects — and coincidence
COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects — and coincidence

As the pandemic rages on, it’s increasingly clear that widespread vaccination is essential to help contain it. Physical distancing, universal ENGAGE+

Covid vaccine impact revealed in over-80s blood tests
Covid vaccine impact revealed in over-80s blood tests

More people in this age group in England now have detectable antibodies that can fight the virus. Source link

Jo Whiley: 'I'd give up my Covid vaccine in a heartbeat'
Jo Whiley: 'I'd give up my Covid vaccine in a heartbeat'

The DJ says she has been offered a Covid jab before her sister, who has a learning disability. Source link

Covid-19: Vaccine as good in 'real world' as in trial in Israel
Covid-19: Vaccine as good in 'real world' as in trial in Israel

The Pfizer vaccine prevented 94% of infections in a group of 600,000 Israeli patients. Source link

Walmart, Walgreens, CVS to Offer COVID-19 Vaccines
Walmart, Walgreens, CVS to Offer COVID-19 Vaccines

Feb. 11, 2021 -- Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Walgreens will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines on Friday through the Federal Retail ENGAGE+

Experts Debunk COVID-19 Vaccine-Shingles Link
Experts Debunk COVID-19 Vaccine-Shingles Link

Feb. 9, 2021 -- The Reddit message board user was looking for others in similar misery to share their stories. ENGAGE+

Beyond COVID-19: Can mRNA Treat Diseases, Too?
Beyond COVID-19: Can mRNA Treat Diseases, Too?

Secondly, the FDA has yet to greenlight any of these treatments. What’s more, some early trials of mRNA therapies have ENGAGE+