Effectiveness of anticoagulants in the prevention of thrombotic complications in patients with cardiovascular pathology who have had COVID-19

Abstract

At the moment, there is a lot of data demonstrating the effectiveness of anticoagulants in the acute period of COVID-19; as for their effectiveness in patients after discharge, there are relatively few data, especially in patients with concomitant cardiological pathology. The purpose — is to evaluate the relationship of taking anticoagulants, within one month after discharge, with the development of cardiovascular events and deaths in patients with cardiovascular pathology during 3 months of follow-up. Material and methods. A retrospective, cohort, observational study of 317 patients who had COVID-19 and had a history (before COVID-19) of cardiovascular pathology was conducted. Results. Within three months after discharge from the hospital, 15 (4.73%) cardiovascular events were registered. The frequency of arterial thrombotic complications was 3.79% (n = 12), venous thrombotic complications 0.95% (n = 3). All cardiovascular events were reported in patients not using anticoagulants (n = 15; 6.28%), p = 0.026. When analyzing concomitant cardiovascular pathology in patients with registered events, it was revealed that the incidence of atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke in their anamnesis was statistically significantly higher (33.33 and 40%), relative to the comparison group (10.03 and 7.9%; p = 0.002; p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The use of anticoagulants in patients with cardiovascular pathology during treatment in a COVID hospital and within one month after discharge was associated with a significant decrease in thromboembolic events over 3 months of follow-up. Predictors of thromboembolic events in patients with cardiovascular pathology and those who have had COVID-19 are: senior age; atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke in the anamnesis.