Clinical Characteristics of Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Authors

The Department of Endemic & Infectious Diseases, Suez Canal University1, Chest Diseases Department, Zagazeg University2, Critical Care Department, King Fahd Hospital, Saudi Arabia3, Clinical Pathology Department, Alazhar University4, Radiology Department, Zagazeg University5, Rheumatology Department, Al-Azhar University6 and Neurology Department, Mansoura University7

Abstract

Abstract Background: COVID-19 infection has been linked to several morbid illnesses, one of which is venous thromboem-bolism; yet, the incidence and clinical characteristics of this disorder vary, and there are no recognized definitive risk predictors. Aim of Study: The goal of this study was to find out how common venous thromboembolism is in COVID-19 patients, as well as the clinical characteristics, risks, and outcomes. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study com-paring the recorded data for two groups of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and admitted to the ICU in 6 months duration. Results: The most common type of venous thromboem-bolism was a pulmonary embolism (PE), which accounted for 68.2 percent of cases, followed by DVT with PE (15.1 percent), DVT alone (12.1 percent), cavernous sinus thrombosis alone CST (3 percent), and CST with renal artery thrombi (1.5 percent). Smoking and cancer were more common in the VTE group, as was a statistically significant increase in D dimer. The most common type of pulmonary embolism in our patients was lobar (69.6%), followed by segmental (17.9%), and finally massive pulmonary embolism (12.5 percent ). Conclusion: VTE is a prevalent issue in COVID-19 individuals, who had higher rates of smoking and malignancy, and considerably increased D dimer, with higher rates of morbidity and mortality.

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