A clinical trial of patients with COVID-19 led by investigators at the TIMI Study Group at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) has found that full-dose anticoagulation lowers the risk of blood clotting complications compared with standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation. Investigators presented their findings at a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2022.

Results from previous clinical trials assessing strategies for preventing blood clots in patients with COVID-19 have been mixed. The COVID-PACT trial enrolled critically ill patients with COVID-19 from sites across the U.S. Patients were randomized to receive either full-dose or standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation therapy. A total of 390 patients were randomized to an anticoagulation strategy.

Investigators found that the risk of venous or arterial clotting complications was 44 per cent lower among patients who received full-dose compared to standard-dose. Fatal or life-threatening bleeding occurred in four patients in the full-dose group compared to one patient in the standard-dose group.

“Until now, the optimal strategy for preventing blood clots among patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 has remained uncertain,” said David Berg, MD, MPH, of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. “COVID-PACT shows that, compared with standard-dose prophylaxis, full-dose anticoagulation more effectively prevents the clotting complications of COVID-19.”

Read more in Circulation.