A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE OUTCOME OF ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY IN HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO D-DIMER IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH INDIA
Rizwan ul Rashid*, Samina Farhat and Khurshid Ahmad Dar
ABSTRACT
Background: Coagulopathy is a potentially fatal complication of the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 that significantly affects the hematological and hemostatic systems. SARS-CoV-2 promotes massive formation and deposition of fibrin, which showed very high D-dimer levels in these patients. Preliminary evidence suggests that administration of anticoagulants may reduce mortality in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, low molecular weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, is preferred over oral anticoagulants. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Chest Disease Hospital, Government Medical College, Srinagar over one year to assess the outcome of anticoagulant therapy in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a special focus on D-dimer. Data were collected using a pre-structured Proforma and then analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total number of 225 patients were included in the study. In our study, 64% were male and 36% were female patients. Patients had higher D-dimer levels at admission (mean 1.81 ± 1.04 mcg/mL) than at follow-up on the fifth hospital day (mean 0.52 ± 0.44 mcg/mL), with a mean difference of 1.29 mcg/mL. Conclusions: Anticoagulation therapy has been recommended as a mitigating strategy in patients with COVID-19. The level of thrombotic markers decreased significantly.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Anticoagulants, D-Dimer, Coagulopathy.
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