• Sean Boyd and Ignacio Martin-Loeches.
• Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Research Organization (MICRO), St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. sean.boyd@ucdconnect.ie.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2021 Nov 1; 190 (4): 1317-1320.

BackgroundCOVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that is currently responsible for the global pandemic. It has been reported that up to 25% [1] of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 develop VTE (venous thromboembolism), and this can be as high as 31% in ICU patients with COVID-19 [2].AimsTo determine VTE rates in ICU patients with COVID compared to those admitted with influenza and a control group.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of 113 patients admitted to ICU at our hospital. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, coagulation profile and prevalence of radiologically proven VTE were recorded and compared between groups.ResultsMore males than females were found in each group. When groups were compared the mean age, BMI and cigarette smoking were similar, as was the incidence of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease. aPTT was higher in the COVID-19 (30.9 ± 3.7 SD) vs (12.8 ± 4.1 SD) the influenza group vs (15.2 ± 4.1 SD) in controls p < 0.001, but fibrinogen was lower 6.2 ± 1.6 SD vs 34.6 ± 14.0SD vs 30.8 ± 5.0 SD, respectively, p < 0.001. VTE rates in the COVID (13.2%) (DVT 5.3%, PE 10.5%) and influenza groups (15.8%) (DVT 13.2%, PE 2.6%) were similar but were higher than the control group (8.1%) (DVT 8.1%, PE 2.7%), but not significantly so (p = 0.5).ConclusionsICU patients with COVID-19 displayed an abnormal coagulation profile and a VTE rate that is similar to ICU patients with influenza. VTE occurred despite thromboprophylaxis and remains a pertinent differential to keep in mind.© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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