Blood thinners improve outcomes for COVID patients, study finds
Eligible COVID-19 patients at The Ottawa Hospital will now get a full dose of blood thinners after a global study showed the treatment reduced the need for ventilators and improved outcomes.
The Ottawa Hospital was among 300 health centres around the world that participated in the study.
Its results were convincing enough that interim results of the study were released early, said Dr. Lana Castellucci, an associate scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and thrombosis physician. She led the Ottawa arm of the study.
The study aims at preventing harms done by unusual blood clotting, which is a marker of COVID -19 and can cause significant organ damage.
“Early in the pandemic, physicians around the world observed increased rates of blood clots and inflammation among COVID-19 patients which affected multiple organs and led to complications such as lung failure, heart attack and stroke. Whether providing increased doses of blood thinners routinely administered to hospitalized patients would be safe and effective was unknown at that time,” wrote the U.S.-based National Institutes of Health in a statement about the research.
It found that patients with the full dose had less need of vital organ support, including ventilation. The study also suggested a possible reduction in deaths resulting from the treatment, but that is being further studied.
In addition to improving outcomes for some COVID -19 patients, the treatment could take pressure off hospital intensive care units.
“With the ICU beds being under so much pressure, this is a medication we have that can reduce the need for patients to go to the ICU,” said Castellucci. “It is great news.”
The Ottawa Hospital already routinely administers a low dose of the blood thinner heparin to admitted patients who are eligible in order to reduce blood clot risk. Hospitalization is considered a risk factor.
But the study found a higher dose pays dividends for COVID-19 patients.