DVT Prophylaxis Rates Among Hospitalized Patients With IBD Are Suboptimal

The deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis rates among patients admitted for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares are suboptimal, according to new research presented at the 2019 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (AIBD) Meeting.

The rate of venous thromboembolisms (VTE) pharmacologic prophylaxis in patients with IBD who are hospitalized is low despite current guidelines and recommendations. Several studies have reported a decreased incidence of VTE among patients with IBD who received anticoagulation therapy while hospitalized. Still, multiple barriers prevent the administration of DVT prophylaxis during hospitalization.

To determine the rate of DVT prophylaxis and the incidence of VTE events among adult patients admitted for IBD flares, the researchers studied data on 105 patients who had been admitted to San Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California, for an IBD flare from 2014 to 2018.

The researchers found that the mean DVT prophylaxis rate was 62.4%, which they labeled “suboptimal.”

Women—especially those with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>30 mm/h) or anemia (hemoglobin <12 g/dL)—were more likely than men to receive DVT prophylaxis. The authors determined that laboratory values in turn influence the administration of DVT prophylaxis during hospitalization.

The researchers also assessed for risk factors or variables that may have contributed to whether a patient received DVT prophylaxis. In doing this, the study authors found no statistical difference among comorbidities or treatment/interventions between those who received and did not receive DVT prophylaxis during hospitalization.

“Greater awareness and guidelines are needed to improve DVT prophylaxis rates in IBD patients admitted for flares,” the researchers concluded.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Ho A, Zhou W. Determining thrombosis rates in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease [poster 113]. Presented at: 2019 AIBD Meeting; December 12-14, 2019; Orlando, FL. https://www.consultant360.com/meeting-materials/determining-thrombosis-rates-hospitalized-patients-inflammatory-bowel-disease. Accessed December 17, 2019.