Eficacia y seguridad de bemiparina en la prevención de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en pacientes de una residencia geriátrica

Abstract

Objective to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bemiparine in elderly institutionalized patients at risk of venous thromboembolic disease (VTD), following a prevention protocol established for health and social centers. Material and methods we performed a prospective observational pharmacovigilance study. The protocol was applied to 45 patients and those with a moderate or high risk for VTD due to morbidity and degree of immobility were started on bemiparine 2,500 and 3,500 units (U) every 24 hours, respectively, as prophylaxis. Platelet count, coagulation and renal function before and after treatment, as well as comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, functional evaluation and quality of life, were evaluated. In patients undergoing treatments for more than 1 month, spine and hip densitometry was performed. Results the risk of VTD was low in 8.8% of the patients, moderate in 46.6% and high in 44.4%. A total of 48.7% of the patients received 3,500 U/day of bemiparine. The mean length of treatment was 26.8 days. During the study, only one thromboembolic process was observed. Venous Eco-Doppler was performed in 6 patients with unconfirmed suspicion of deep venous thrombosis. No cases of thrombocytopenia occurred and no differences were found in hematological or biochemical parameters (p > 0.05). Densitometry showed no significant differences. Ninety percent of the patients considered the treatment good or very good. Two patients (5.4%) discontinued the treatment due to adverse effects. Conclusions bemiparine is safe and effective in the prophylaxis of VTD in elderly patients within the context of the VTD prevention protocol used in our centre.