Venous thromboembolic events in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

High incidence of venous thromboembolic complications in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients was noted recently.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to explore the factors associated with prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS:

A literature search was conducted in several online databases. Fixed effects meta-analysis was performed for the factors associated with prevalence of VTE in COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS:

A total of 39 studies were analysed in this analysis. The incidence of pulmonary embolism and VTE in severe COVID-19 patients were 17% (95% CI, 13-21%) and 42% (95% CI, 25-60%), respectively. VTE were more common among individuals with COVID-19 of advance age. Male COVID-19 patients are more likely to experience VTE. Higher levels of white blood cell (WBC; WMD = 1.34 × 109/L; 95% CI, 0.84-1.84 × 109/L), D-dimer (WMD = 4.21 μg/ml; 95% CI, 3.77-4.66 μg/ml), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT; WMD = 2.03 s; 95% CI, 0.83-3.24 s), fibrinogen (WMD = 0.49 μg/ml; 95% CI, 0.18-0.79 g/L) and C-reactive protein (CRP; WMD = 21.89 mg/L; 95% CI, 11.44-32.34 mg/L) were commonly noted in COVID-19 patients with VTE. Patients with lower level of lymphocyte (WMD = -0.15 × 109/L; 95% CI, -0.23--0.07 × 109/L) was at high risk of developing VTE. The incidence of severe condition (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.95-3.62) was more likely to occur among COVID-19 patients who developed VTE.

CONCLUSION:

VTE is a common complication in severe COVID-19 patients and thromboembolic events are also associated with adverse outcomes.

• Authors: Ting Wu, Zhihong Zuo, Deyi Yang, Xuan Luo, Liping Jiang, Zanxian Xia, Xiaojuan Xiao, Jing Liu, Mao Ye, Meichun Deng
• Journal: Age and ageing (Age Ageing) Vol. 50 Issue 2 Pg. 284-293 (02 26 2021) ISSN: 1468-2834 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33201226 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Topics

• Aged
• Blood Coagulation Tests (methods)
• COVID-19 (blood, complications, diagnosis)
• Humans
• Risk Factors
• SARS-CoV-2
• Severity of Illness Index
• Venous Thromboembolism (diagnosis, etiology)