Management and impact of atrial fibrillation in the COVID 19 era; concomitancy of two procoagulant phenomena

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a widespread cause of prothrombotic state leading to long-term anticoagulant therapy. Literature describes coagulopathy as a key pathogenic mechanism of COVID-19 disease. Thus, antithrombotic therapy management is still a therapeutic challenge. During hospitalization, changing oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapies into subcutaneous heparin is common in daily clinical practice. Purpose The primary endpoint of this study is to analyze the impact of AF in mortality within 30 day since admission of COVID-19 patients. The secondary endpoint is to analyze the impact of the anticoagulant therapy strategy (therapeutic dose of subcutaneous heparin vs. OAC) in 30-day mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with AF. Methods A total of 1001 consecutive patients hospitalized in our centre between 22nd August and 9th January 2021 with a confirmed microbiological diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR were prospectively included. Of them, 134 had a previous diagnose of AF (13.5%). Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of AF and the choice of anticoagulant therapy in 30-day mortality after adjusting for comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index). Results After adjusting for comorbidities, AF was not independently associated with a higher 30-day mortality in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection (HR 1.04, CI 0.77–1.43, p=0.760). In the group of patients with AF, changing OAC to heparin therapy was not associated with an improved prognosis (HR 0.85, CI 95% 0.46–1.56, p=0.604). Conclusions AF is not an independent prognostic factor in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. In hospitalized COVID-19 patients with AF, changing OAC to heparin therapy is not related to an improved prognosis. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Mortality heparin vs NOAC or AVK

Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation for prevention of COVID-19 mortality: a nationwide cohort study of hospitalized patients in the United States

ImportanceDeaths among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are partially attributed to venous thromboembolism and arterial thromboses. Anticoagulants prevent thrombosis formation, possess anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, and may be particularly effective for treating patients with COVID-19.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation within 24 hours of admission is associated with decreased risk of death among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingNationwide cohort of patients receiving care in the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States.ParticipantsAll patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection March 1 to July 31, 2020, without a history of therapeutic anticoagulation.ExposuresProphylactic doses of subcutaneous heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, or direct oral anticoagulants.Main Outcomes and Measures30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes: inpatient mortality and initiating therapeutic anticoagulation.ResultsOf 4,297 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 3,627 (84.4%) received prophylactic anticoagulation within 24 hours of admission. More than 99% (n=3,600) received subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin. We observed 622 deaths within 30 days of admission, 513 among those who received prophylactic anticoagulation. Most deaths (510/622, 82%) occurred during hospitalization. In inverse probability of treatment weighted analyses, cumulative adjusted incidence of mortality at 30 days was 14.3% (95% CI 13.1-15.5) among those receiving prophylactic anticoagulation and 18.7% (95% CI 15.1-22.9) among those who did not. Compared to patients who did not receive prophylactic anticoagulation, those who did had a 27% decreased risk for 30-day mortality (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.66-0.81). Similar associations were found for inpatient mortality and initiating therapeutic anticoagulation. Quantitative bias analysis demonstrated that results were robust to unmeasured confounding (e-value lower 95% CI 1.77). Results persisted in a number of sensitivity analyses.Conclusions and RelevanceEarly initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was associated with a decreased risk of mortality. These findings provide strong real-world evidence to support guidelines recommending the use of prophylactic anticoagulation as initial therapy for COVID-19 patients upon hospital admission.