In treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients, anticoagulants– or blood thinners — are helping improve their chances of survival. In recent weeks, physicians have noticed that the sickest coronavirus patients are more prone to forming blood clots — an unexpected symptom for a respiratory virus. Clotting means “patients are at increased risk for deep vein thrombosis, strokes, heart attacks” and pulmonary embolisms.
Mount Sinai COVID Informatics Center researchers said in a study, published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, could provide new insight on how to treat and manage coronavirus patients once they are admitted to the hospital.
The research also showed that the difference in bleeding events among patients treated with and without anticoagulants was not significant. The Mount Sinai researchers say their work outlines an important therapeutic pathway for COVID-19 patients.
