Thrombosis Risk Assessment In The COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The appearance of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a renewed interest in thrombosis risk assessment, particularly since this disease is associated with a high risk of thrombotic events. It is known that the number one preventable cause of death in hospitalized patients including those having surgical procedures is fatal pulmonary emboli. There is also high-quality data that the use of anticoagulant drugs in the proper dose, and for the period of time shown to be efficacious, will prevent most fatal events. It is true that even with the use of the best anticoagulant regimes venous thromboembolic events (VTE) can still occur but are rarely fatal. We also realize that providing adequate anticoagulant prophylaxis for the entire period of risk is the key to preventing these deaths. Thrombosis risk scoring identifies who's at risk for these emboli and guides physician choices for appropriate preventive measures.