Prevalence of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in admitted COVID-19 patients

Background: COVID-19 is associated with coagulopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Furthermore, these patients are immobilized by illness and due to mandatory isolation. Frequently, this immobilization occurs already at home. The above makes patients prone to develop venous thromboembolism.
To prevent the development of venous thromboembolism during hospital admission, the majority of patients receives thromboprophylaxis. Nevertheless, the clinical impression has arisen that patients deteriorate acutely with symptoms compatible with acute lung embolism while using thromboprophylaxis. This might be explained by embolization of clots originating from asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Knowing whether patients have asymptomatic DVT is clinically relevant because treatment with a therapeutic dose of anticoagulants prevents embolization and improves survival. We don’t know whether we should perform ultrasound routinely in patients with COVID, as there is no literature on DVT prevalence yet.

Objectives: We aim to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic DVT in COVID patients admitted to the general ward.

Study design: This is a multicenter cross-sectional diagnostic study that will be performed in UMCG, UMCA location VUMC, Radboud, MUMC and possibly more collaborating centers.

Patients: aged ≥ 18 years admitted to the COVID ward without clinical suspicion of DVT, who provided informed consent.

Treatment of subjects: Ultrasound of both legs is performed once during hospital admission to determine whether patients have an asymptomatic proximal DVT (popliteal or femoral vein). If an asymptomatic DVT is diagnosed this will be treated according to the international guidelines with therapeutic dosed anticoagulants.

Patient data will be anonymously stored in a database.

COVID patients have a higher prevalence of DVT than patients with other infectious diseases

cross-sectional diagnostic study

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