Is venous thromboembolism a predictable marker in older patients with COVID-19 infection? A single-center observational study

Authors

  • Alfredo De Giorgi Clinica Medica Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
  • Carlo Contini Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
  • Salvatore Greco Internal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
  • Fabio Fabbian Clinica Medica Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
  • Vincenzo Gasbarro Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
  • Giovanni Zuliani Internal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
  • Angelina Passaro Internal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
  • Gladiol Zenunaj Vascular Surgery Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Italy
  • Roberto Manfredini Clinica Medica Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14523

Keywords:

Covid-19, elderly, venous thromboembolism, comorbidity score, D-dimer

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents an important clinical complication of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and high plasma D-dimer levels could suggest a higher risk of hypercoagulability. We aimed to analyse if laboratory exams, risk assessment scores, comorbidity scores were useful in predicting the VTE in SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted in internal medicine (IM). We evaluated 49 older adults with suspected VTE analysing history and blood chemistry, besides we calculated the Padua Prediction Score, the modified early warning scoring (MEWS) and the modified Elixhauser index (mEI). All patients underwent venous color-doppler ultrasounds of the lower limbs. Out of the 49 patients enrolled (mean age 79.3±14 years), 10 (20.4%) had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and they were more frequently female (80% vs 20%, p = 0.04). We could not find any association with the Padua Prediction Score, the MEWS, and the mEI. D-dimer plasma levels were also not associated with DVT. In elderly people hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized in IM, our data, although limited by the sample size, suggest that prediction and diagnosis of VTE is difficult, due to lack of precise biomarkers and scores.

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Published

2021-05-31

How to Cite

1.
De Giorgi A, Contini C, Greco S, Fabbian F, Gasbarro V, Zuliani G, Passaro A, Zenunaj G, Manfredini R (2021) Is venous thromboembolism a predictable marker in older patients with COVID-19 infection? A single-center observational study. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:639–345. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14523

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic