key: cord-0946463-18nbryxe
authors: Costa, Alessandro; Weinstein, Eric S.; Sahoo, D. Ruby; Thompson, Stanley C.; Faccincani, Roberto; Ragazzoni, Luca
title: How to Build the Plane While Flying: VTE/PE Thromboprophylaxis Clinical Guidelines for COVID-19 Patients
date: 2020-06-16
journal: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.195
sha: 67027410a54ab42769fbc057e0fcbf2f8cff2e16
doc_id: 946463
cord_uid: 18nbryxe

Over the years, the practice of medicine has evolved from authority-based to experience-based to evidence-based with the introduction of the scientific process, clinical trials, and outcomes-based data analysis (Tebala GD. Int J Med Sci. 2018;15(12):1397-1405). The time required to perform the necessary randomized controlled trials, a systematic literature review, and meta-analysis of these trials to then create, accept, promulgate, and educate the practicing clinicians to use the evidence-based clinical guidelines is typically measured in years. When the severe acute respiratory syndrome novel coronavirus-2 (SARS-nCoV-2) pandemic commenced in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, there were few available clinical guidelines to deploy, let alone adapt and adopt to treat the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The aim of this study is to first explain how clinical guidelines, on which bedside clinicians have grown accustomed, can be created in the midst of a pandemic, with an evolving scientific understanding of the pathophysiology of the hypercoagulable state. The second is to adapt and adopt current venous thromboembolism diagnostic and treatment guidelines, while relying on the limited available observational reporting of COVID-19 patients to create a comprehensive clinical guideline to treat COVID-19 patients.

T he coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) clinical spectrum has presented diagnostic and treatment challenges without evidencebased clinical guidelines (CG). Abnormal laboratory markers of inflammation and coagulation were obtained following prior examples of viral pneumonia evaluation and treatment (severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, influenza A virus subtype H1N1). Clinicians noted different laboratory and clinical patterns and began to ask about the hypercoagulable aspects of their patients' course and publish their observations. On February 22, 2020, Han et al. 1 submitted their study concluding, in part, that the D-dimer was found to be predictive of disease progression but did not discuss the clinical implication to recommend therapy. One week later, Lin et al. 2 published a study concluding that the assessment of the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) to prevent the possibility of pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) should include the interpretation of abnormally elevated D-dimer.

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) published a COVID-19 and VTE/Anticoagulation Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 3 on March 27, 2020. They recommend continuing the standard pharmacologic prophylaxis and treatment irrespective of COVID-19, because the observed high rates of thrombosis in seriously ill COVID-19 patients in China occurred where routine thromboprophylaxis may not be routinely practiced.

Klok et al. studied 184 COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in the Netherlands from March 7 through April 5, 2020. Despite all patients receiving at least standard VTE prophylaxis doses, 25 (13.5%) had computed tomography angiogram (CTA) proven PE, 3 (1.6%) had a VTE (1 with a proximal deep vein thrombosis [DVT] of the leg and 2 with a catheter related upper extremity thrombosis), and 3 (1.6%) had cerebrovascular thrombotic strokes. The authors proposed that physicians treating COVID-19 pneumonia patients should be vigilant for signs of thrombotic complications, despite standard VTE prophylaxis treatment. 4 The letter to the editor by Barrett et al. 11 responded to the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) interim guidance on recognition and management of coagulopathy in COVID-19 from 22 March 2020 that recommended only prophylactic VTE treatment. 12 They provided a logical argument that, due to the hypercoagulable state, coagulation management needs to be pushed to the forefront.

Available VTE/PE prophylaxis guidelines [7] [8] [9] [10] have been collected with various dates of inception based on their own institutional or network data as well as early publications regarding the hypercoagulable state to assist this study. How to build CG (the plane) based on the findings of a scoping review while practicing (flying) in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic uses an understanding of CG development as the science becomes refined while carefully examining measurable outcomes of the incidence of VTE and PE when available. All-cause mortality 13 without autopsy or confirming imaging of PE, complications from the LMWH treatment, and control for adherence to the adopted local CG with set D-dimer parameters based on prophylaxis and treatment LMWH dosages can be followed by the institutions that adapt, adopt, and create their own CG. 14, 15 The aim of this scoping review is to determine the options for anti-coagulation therapy during the SARS-nCoV-2 clinical spectrum from available peer-reviewed literature from clinical researchers' observations, some published on-line ahead of print during the study. Specifically of interest is to learn the change in the D-dimer over a period of time that would indicate when to escalate the LMWH dose from standard VTE/PE prophylaxis to VTE/PE treatment.

A scoping review is preferred over a systematic review in a pandemic, as it is able to quickly identify the evidence available to identify knowledge gaps, scope a body of literature, and clarify concepts. 16 During the SARS-n-CoV-2 pandemic, an increase in scientific production has occurred, with on-line publication ahead of print, providing a massive amount of data in a span of weeks. As many different studies, with different sizes and search questions, were hastily published to spread knowledge on the COVID infection, scoping reviews are specially fitted to collect the essence from different studies and highlight emerging evidence in current peer-reviewed literature when it is still unclear what other, more specific, questions can be posed and valuably addressed by a more precise systematic literature review. 17 

Which D-dimer levels require clinical actions in COVID-19 patients?

What COVID-19 hypercoagulation evaluation and treatment data are available in the midst of the pandemic?

How common are thrombotic and hemorrhagic events in the COVID-19 spectrum?

Papers that met inclusion criteria were exported from PubMed as XML files and entered on a Google spreadsheet, which included the following fields: Subject title, Authors, Name of the journal or book, Abstract, Date of publication.

Inclusion: Studies published from 1 January to 23 April 2020, English studies, Chinese studies with an English abstract.

Exclusion: Studies that did not answer the search questions, Single case reports, Papers that reported data from other studies.

The first screening was a review of the title, by 2 independent reviewers (A.C., E.W.) each reviewer would note, "yes" or "no" on the spreadsheet. If there was "yes" consensus, the article was included in the second screening review. If there was "no" consensus, the article was discarded. If consensus was not reached, the 2 reviewers discussed the subject, and then, if consensus was not reached, then the third reviewer (D.S.) was the arbiter.

The second screening was a review of the abstract, again noting, "yes" or "no" on the spreadsheet. If there was "yes" consensus, the article was included in the scoping review. If there was "no" consensus, the article was discarded. If consensus was not reached, the 2 reviewers discussed the subject, and then, if consensus was not reached, then the third reviewer (D.S.) was the arbiter.

Following the screening process, data were entered on to the spreadsheet for the following elements: D-dimer levels of COVID patients, thrombotic and hemorrhagic events of COVID patients, protocols and therapeutic approaches for the use of anticoagulants in COVID patients, open questions and unanswered research questions on coagulation and related complications, D-dimer values that trigger the start of anticoagulation, first anticoagulation drug used and relative dosing, D-dimer values that trigger the escalation of anticoagulation, surveillance subjective (symptoms) or objective (labs, imaging) data to monitor complications of the hypercoagulable state or treatment, escalation of anticoagulant therapy, discharge with anticoagulant therapy.

The search retrieved 130 publications, once 35 duplicate results were removed, 95 papers were screened then 35 were excluded. 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, Based on title and abstract after the second screening, 60 papers were selected for further review. There were 5 Chinese papers with an English abstract and Chinese-only full text that made it to the second phase, and it was agreed by both reviewers to evaluate these based on the abstract (Figure 1 ).

The expanded Google spreadsheet served as a data extraction tool for the 39 papers that were selected to have met the search questions ( Table 2) .

D-dimer values (n = 25) ( Table 3) were increased in all the studies, compared with general control population, in all COVID patients. D-dimer on admission greater than 4 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) could effectively predict in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19, which indicated D-dimer could be an early and helpful marker to improve management of COVID-19 patients. 13 A mean increase in concentration is appraised in more severe patients, with higher concentrations suggesting a higher mortality rate. 13,24,31 D-dimer levels higher than twice ULN are associated with worse outcome by 2 studies. 19, 24 The recommendation to hospitalize patients with values higher than 3-4 times the ULN was questioned by Akima et al. 44 Patients with D-dimer higher than 6 times ULN seem to benefit the most from the use of heparin therapy. 48, 49 Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Complications Manifestations of hypercoagulation (n = 6) ( Table 3) are widespread, with the most common reported in reduced numbers: DVT, PE, ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI), and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). 47 No hemorrhagic complication was reported by any of the studies. Close monitoring is always suggested due to the increased risk of bleeding with anticoagulation following standard monitoring of symptoms, signs, and blood tests.

Except for Lin et al., 2 no study suggests a D-dimer cutoff to start anticoagulation therapy (n = 16) ( Table 4 ). The criteria for beginning anticoagulation treatment with COVID-19 patients is debated, with some studies starting prophylactic anticoagulation on every hospitalized patient, 10,51 others are Most studies suggest as a starting therapy LMWH, with dosing adjusted for weight and creatinine clearance (CCr) to be in prophylactic range or, alternatively, unfractionated heparin (UFH), depending on the CCr. The dosages would follow each institution's standard dosage algorithms and are not discussed in this study after a careful standard assessment of bleeding risk and other contraindications. Just a single study suggests as firstline therapy the use of therapeutic doses of LMWH or UFH. 52 Additionally, a study suggests using D-dimer OR thromboelastography (TEG) for monitoring therapeutic efficacy. 41 While authors recognize the role of ultrasound (US) in the surveillance of DVT complications, 5, 28, 42 no study suggests routine sonographic screening. The use of CTA is preferred by some authors in case of high bleeding risk, 10 while clinical monitoring followed by US and CTA is still the most common approach, 10,51,52 D-dimer 50 is suggested only once in this findings as a tool to escalate therapy.

Escalation therapy is unclear in many studies. The studies that mention the increase of dosing, refer to the use of LMWH or UFH to full therapeutic dosing 42, 50, 52 with just a single study suggesting the use of novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC). 10 Few studies refer to the use of anticoagulant therapy after discharge, with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) or LMWH as reference drugs. 42, 47, 52 Therapy duration is referred from 7 to 14 d 42 up to 2 mo suggested by Obi et al. 10 

The highest level of evidence is a systematic literature review of randomized controlled studies with meta-analysis of data. When this study commenced at that phase of the COVID-19 clinical spectrum there were no such studies. Tricco et al 53 raised the concern of poor quality of reporting of numerous rapid reviews and recommends a prospective study comparing the results of systematic literature reviews and scoping reviews as a measure of quality analysis of available data.

Unfortunately, at the time of this study, the incidence of thrombotic complications and outcomes of anticoagulation therapy are unknown due to lack of standardized reporting, lack of autopsy studies, and other data gaps. Most studies are retrospective and present small sample sizes. Additionally, the majority are focused on Chinese patients, which could lead to biases in population selection and therapeutic management. 12 Studies are highly heterogeneous in reporting anticoagulant management and therapeutic suggestions, and not 

many papers have considered the possibility of escalating therapy to reduce the potential of thrombotic complications. Additionally, little evidence is available of the use of antiplatelet aggregation therapy, with a single study reporting its use, 43 Time zero has proven difficult to define when the initial D-dimer test was obtained in the time course of the COVID-19 spectrum in available studies. Each patient presents at a different point in time in their disease course, comparing patient to patient or an aggregate analysis of patients' D-dimer levels would require a careful analysis. 54 Perhaps in due time this can and likely will be defined, but in the midst of the evolving science of the COVID-19 spectrum, our only alternative is to appreciate the global phenomena of the hypercoagulable state and extrapolate what we do know in the absence of double-blind random control studies or a registry of studies that use the same treatment guideline with clinical outcome measurements, including autopsy, imaging, and other determinants of VTE and PE.

The binding of the SARS-CoV-2 virion to an angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, largely found in alveolar epithelial cells, activates cytokine release. In some individuals, the number of proinflammatory cytokines released sharply increases due to loss of negative feedback to the immune system, and positive feedback from the inflammatory cytokines leading to further production of inflammatory cytokines. This results in a phenomenon known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), or cytokine storm, a dynamic process that may not be clinically apparent.

Cytokine measurement is theoretically appealing, but most markers are not easily assessed in the peripheral blood and others have not yet proven to be predictive of poor outcomes. 55 In 2002, Shorr et al. 56 showed that D-dimer levels in critically ill patients correlate with activation of the proinflammatory cytokine cascade. Chen et al 20 in a small sample size observation study of COVID-19 patients demonstrated similar with CRS markers and the D-dimer markedly (5 × ULN) elevated in the severe group (n = 11) than the moderate group (n = 10) with normal D-dimer levels. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are extracellular webs of chromatin, microbicidal proteins, and oxidant enzymes that are released by neutrophils to contain infections. However, when not properly regulated, NETs have potential to propagate inflammation and microvascular thrombosis. Zuo et al. 57 found that patients with COVID-19 (n = 50 patients; n = 84 samples) have elevated levels of markers of NETs that strongly correlate with elevated D-dimer levels.

Importantly, these NET markers were higher in hospitalized patients receiving mechanical ventilation as compared with hospitalized patients breathing room air. Experience suggests that trends in laboratory studies rather than threshold values will be most informative. 58 The D-dimer is readily available in most hospital laboratories and most providers are familiar with the association between VTE and elevated D-dimer levels. In a COVID-19 patient with CRS and worsening coagulopathy as evidenced by a rising D-dimer, it may make sense to administer escalated doses of anti-coagulation before thrombotic events occur. 39, 58 TEG TEG is a noninvasive test using blood obtained by means of venipuncture that can measure the ability of whole blood to form a clot. Over the years, TEG has been highly studied and used in various capacities, including assisting in liver transplant patients, cardiac surgery, and in traumatic blood loss. It can detect and quantify changes in the viscoelastic properties of a blood sample during clotting. Normal range for coagulation index (CI) is -3.0 to þ3.0, where a CI > þ3.0 would indicate a hypercoagulable state, and CI < -3.0 indicates a coagulopathy. 59 A study conducted by Panigada et al. 38 used TEG testing on 24 COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU in Milan, Italy, to show evidence of hypercoagulability with a severe inflammatory state, but not acute DIC. Elevated TEG results were shown to correlate with elevated D-dimer results in COVID-19 patients in severe respiratory failure, supporting a hypercoagulable state. 60 Chinese expert consensus supported the use of TEG in severe COVID-19 patients in part because TEG was available and an actionable test, interpretable to assist management. 41 

D-dimer is a major fibrin degradation product released upon cleavage of cross-linked fibrin by plasmin. Although other fibrin degradation products are generated with this cleavage of fibrin, D-dimer is the most studied and validated for clinical assessment. Normal levels of D-dimer vary by laboratory, depending on their equipment and process. For the purpose of how to create a CG while interpreting observational studies from across the world, the D-dimer level will be expressed as "times ULN" or "× ULN". Although not studied with COVID-19 patients using an assessment of pretest clinical probability with age-adjusted D-dimer, there was a low likelihood of clinical venous thromboembolism. 61 The recommended (and most used) adjustment is by the formula for patients over 50 y of age is (patient's age × 10) μg/L. 62 The development of CGs to diagnose, treat, and monitor the hypercoagulable state with COVID-19 patients requires an appreciation of small sample observation studies. Although Lippi et al. established a weighted mean difference among 4 studies (Huang, 63 Tang, 31 , Wang, 64 and Zhou 24 ) of a D-dimer level of 6 × ULN, acknowledging the heterogeneity across the COVID-19 DVT/PE Prophylaxis Guidelines studies, the main point raised is that the evolution of a worsening clinical course can be determined by serial D-dimer levels.

For over 50 y, warfarin was the only oral anticoagulant available. In the past 10 y, we have seen the development of NOACs. These drugs are now commonly classified as DOACs. The 5 DOACs currently available in the United States are dabigatran (Pradaxa ® ), rivaroxaban (Xarelto ® ), apixaban (Eliquis ® ), edoxaban (Savaysa ® ), and betrixaban (Bevyxxa ® ). DOACs are termed "direct" because they block a single blood-clotting factor to treat or prevent thrombus. These drugs have different and often overlapping FDA indications, but all indications are for the treatment or prevention of thromboembolic disease. Given the increased risk and prevalence of thrombotic complications in COVID-19, the question has been raised if DOACs would play a role in the treatment of or reduction of risk of VTE in this subset of patients.

Current consensus supports the universal administration of thromboprophylaxis for all patients admitted for COVID-19, who do not have an increased risk of bleeding or contraindication to anticoagulation. 3, 12, 46, 65 Many support a varied dosage strategy based on VTE risk (typically using D-dimer), weight, and renal function. Most experts recommend LMWH or fondaparinux over UFH, as it minimizes patient interaction with managing drips and eliminates difficulties maintaining therapeutic levels. It would seem likely that DOACs would offer these same advantages. However, most experts do not recommend DOACs for thromboprophylaxis or treatment of VTE for COVID-19 inpatients. The principal reason for this is due to interactions between investigational drugs for COVID-19 and DOACs. Multiple medications under investigation for COVID-19 have drug-drug interaction with DOACs due to their effect on the cytochrome-P450 enzyme activity, the enzyme-substrate by which most DOACs are metabolized. The University of Liverpool has collated a list of drug interactions at http:// COVID19-druginteractions.org/. 66 Given this, it is even recommended that patients on DOACs (and warfarin) should be switched to LMWH on admission for COVID-19, to dosages corresponding to DOAC or warfarin dosing. 67 

The greatest use for DOACs to prevent VTE in the COVID-19 patient appears to be at discharge and in the outpatient treatment space. After hospital discharge from acute medical illness, extended prophylaxis with LMWH or DOAC's can reduce the risk of VTE. 68, 69 While there are no current data specific to thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19, it stands to reason that, due to the increased risk of thrombotic events identified beyond what is typically seen in the acutely medically ill patient population, upon discharge COVID-19 inpatients could benefit from extended thromboprophylaxis. Many experts and academic institution guidelines support risk stratification for the use of DOACs for extended thromboprophylaxis postdischarge in patients without increased bleeding risk. 46, 70 Rivaroxaban, betrixaban, and apixaban have all demonstrated extended thromboprophylaxis in the acutely medically ill patients, in which patients with infectious diseases were part of their inclusion criteria [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] (Supplementary Table 1 , which is available online). 76, 77 These studies all compared the DOAC to enoxaparin, placebo, or enoxaparin plus placebo. The studies varied in patient population characteristics, inclusion criteria, and primary efficacy outcomes. Their results varied in superiority and noninferiority compared with the respective control group. Rivaroxaban and betrixaban did achieve FDA approval for the indication of extended thromboprophylaxis in the treatment of the acutely medically ill. There are no studies that have reviewed extended thromboprophylaxis in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. However, many experts, as well as the authors of this study, suggest constructing guidelines that strongly encourage the use of DOACs or LMWH for extended thromboprophylaxis postdischarge for all admitted COVID-19 patients without contraindications or increased risk of bleeding. 3, 46, 52, 65 With no studies in the COVID-19 thromboprophylaxis space, it is challenging to determine dosing at discharge for DOACs. Most experts prescribe dosages for DOACs that are typically in line with dosages studied in the thromboprophylaxis studies for treatment of the medically ill.

COVID-19 patients have an increased risk of thrombotic events, with many patients demonstrating markedly elevated D-dimer or have suspected or confirmed VTE and are treated as inpatients with enoxaparin at treatment doses. For those patients with confirmed VTE, the DOAC at discharge should be one that has an FDA approved indication for VTE treatment, and the dose should be the treatment regimen. For those patients who have markedly elevated D-dimer and treated with therapeutic doses of LMWH, confirming or ruling out VTE would be prudent before discharge. If there is no confirmatory VTE, one would expect that a COVID-19 patient who is well enough to be considered for discharge would have a D-dimer level that is at least below 3 times ULN and could be discharged on a DOAC or LMWH at prophylactic dosages.

As far as the duration of prophylactic treatment, expert opinion has ranged from 14 to 45 d. 3, 47, 52, 65 Again, given that clinicians are out of the realm of the randomized control trials in thromboprophylaxis of COVID-19 patients to create CGs, determining duration of treatment for thromboprophylaxis is challenging. How long inflammation and thrombotic derangements last after recovering from the COVID-19 acute lung injury spectrum remains unclear, because the incidence of post-COVID-19 acute lung injury spectrum VTE/PE and other thrombotic complications is unknown. Cohoon et al. 73 as a subgroup analysis of the MAGELLAN study concluded that rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis among patients recently hospitalized for acute infectious diseases after 35 d reduced the occurrence of VTE. The risk/benefit ratio remains a clinical decision based on the in-patient team's rationale for thromboprophylaxis to continue postdischarge. The authors of this study recommend consideration of up to a 35-d DOAC course with a careful assessment of continued risk, bleeding precautions, with close follow-up.

Autopsy reports of COVID-19 patients have demonstrated PE, cerebrovascular (stroke) and coronary artery (myocardial infarction [MI]) emboli. [78] [79] [80] It could be extrapolated that patients with milder pulmonary symptoms of COVID-19 could also benefit from thromboprophylaxis as outpatients with DOACs or LMWH. Some experts recommend that patients with mild and moderate pulmonary COVID-19 who have a high or moderate risk of VTE (using IMPROVEDD, 81 among other validated scoring systems), began pharmacological thrombotic prevention, 46 others believe pharmacological prophylaxis should be reserved for inpatients. 82 This is a controversial topic currently without evidence-based recommendations. However, with the increase in thrombotic events, some consideration for thromboprophylaxis should be given to the COVID-19 patient at high risk for VTE with no other indications for admission.

Risk stratification using the D-dimer seems to be the best approach, because it has been shown to predict severity of illness and thromboembolic risk. 83 ISTH guidance suggests any COVID-19 patient with a D-dimer great than 3 times ULN be admitted regardless of the presence of any other admission criteria. 12, 78 However, that still leaves the at-risk patient with a D-dimer less than 3 times ULN without guidance. Patients with VTE risk and D-dimer levels from 1 to 3 times ULN with no other criteria for admission still have significant risk, and perhaps guidance for prescribing DOACs for those without significant bleeding risk, at the same dosage and duration as those discharged inpatients, would be a life-saving maneuver.

The hypercoagulable thrombotic potential for COVID-19 patients that do not require admission based on oxygen requirements or other supportive care does raise the question of aspirin therapy without standard contraindications. Guzik et al. 84 summarize that COVID-19 may lead to plaque instability and myocardial infarction, which is a common cause of death in COVID-19 patients. The most common cardiac complications include dysrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachydysrhythmias, and ventricular fibrillation). A study from the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University shows that 16 of the 138 COVID-19 patients required cardiologic intensive Figure 2 care after developing arrhythmias. 64 In the Lombardy region of Italy during the study period in 2020, a total of 9806 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the study territory. During this period, 362 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) were identified, compared with 229 cases identified during the same period in 2019 (a 58% increase). COVID-19 was diagnosed or suspected in 103 of the 362 OHCA patients. 85 Studies presented earlier have demonstrated the occurrence of MIs and CVAs. For these reasons, the recommendation without standard contraindication is for 325 mg 86 of aspirin daily for the extended thromboprophylaxis period stated earlier in the DOAC discussion of up to 35 d.

The CG developed (Figure 2 with accompanying Table 5 ) addressed the 4 main presentations of a COVID-19 patient: (1) not requiring further evaluation after confirmation based on the clinical exam, there is no recommendation to obtain a D-dimer at this time; (2) requiring further evaluation based on the clinical exam but not requiring hospitalization with a D-dimer that is normal or < 3 times ULN; (3) requiring hospitalization without risk or clinical indication for VTE or PE with a D-dimer that is normal or <3 times ULN; (4) requiring hospitalization with risk or clinical indication for VTE or PE or with a D-dimer > 3 times ULN. A key aspect of this CG is to educate the patient upon discharge from the initial presentation or after acute in-patient care to be aware of symptoms and signs of VTE: DVT, PE, chest pain or angina equivalents, CVA/transient ischemic attack (TIA), mesenteric ischemia, and limb ischemia from peripheral artery disease (PAD). If the patient has any concerns, they should be instructed to call 911 (or the local number for an ambulance) or go to the nearest emergency department.

The CG advocates for clinicians to be keen on these symptoms during the post-acute COVID-19 phase as the period of hypercoagulability has yet to be determined. While admitted, all providers, including nurses, should be hyperacute to any signs of thrombosis, of hemodialysis or other catheters, as well as during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Rapid decrease in oxygenation or an increase in other parameters that indicate a PE should trigger an escalation in anticoagulation treatment before formal diagnosis. The decision to obtain initial and serial imaging for DVT or echocardiogram for right heart strain or other easily obtainable studies for PE is not easily determined by this scoping review and is left up to the individual treatment team. All treating providers and nurses need to be on the alert for any clinical symptoms or signs of end-organ ischemia as an indication of thrombosis: TIA/ CVA, angina equivalent, mesenteric ischemia, limb ischemia, etc. The most effective process to develop a local CG is to initiate a Clinical Guideline Team of Scientists (Table 6) to study and maintain a focus on the evolving science.

This study stands on the shoulders of all the clinical scientists who knew that their observations were important for other scientists to study and will continue to study. Clinicians have abrogated their role in the translational science process that uses evidence-based medicine in the development of the CG that they follow in their daily practice. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, response clinicians have had to create their own CGs for many aspects of the COVID-19 clinical spectrum while they practice, acquiring information from their own institution, networks, and from available on-line publications ahead of print, in essence building the plane (CGs) as they fly (practice).

These CGs reflect the current available information obtained by a scoping review with the full expectation that refinements, particularly the use of the D-dimer as a hypercoagulable marker and the timing and dosages of LMWH, DOACs, and aspirin (and other medications) will reflect on-going study waiting for the randomized controlled trials and subsequent systematic literature reviews and meta-analysis. The cautious process outlined in the creation of these guidelines remains at the forefront to address the COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Correspondence and reprint requests to Eric S. Weinstein, CRIMEDIM, Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Via Lanino, 1, 28100 Novara, Italy (e-mail: eswein402@gmail.com).

To view supplementary material for this article, please visit https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.195 

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Age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off in the diagnostic strategy for deep vein thrombosis: a systematic review

Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan

Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan, China

The COVID-19 Sub-Committee of the American Venous Forum. Considerations in prophylaxis and treatment of VTE in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 interactions

Practical guidance for the prevention of thrombosis and management of coagulopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation of patients infected with COVID-19

Duration of venous thromboembolism risk across a continuum in medically ill hospitalized patients

American Society of Hematology 2018 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: prophylaxis for hospitalized and nonhospitalized medical patients

Comparison of clinical and pathological features between severe acute respiratory syndrome and coronavirus disease

Rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis in acutely ill medical patients

Extended thromboprophylaxis with betrixaban in acutely ill medical patients

Rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis among patients recently hospitalized for acute infectious diseases: a subgroup analysis of the MAGELLAN study

Apixaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis in medically ill patients

Rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis after hospitalization for medical illness

The safety and efficacy of full-versus reduced-dose betrixaban in the acute medically ill VTE (venous thromboembolism) prevention with extended-duration Betrixaban (APEX) trial

The MARINER trial of rivaroxaban after hospital discharge for medical patients at high risk of VTE. Design, rationale, and clinical implications

Coagulation disorders in coronavirus infected patients: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and lessons COVID-19 DVT/PE Prophylaxis Guidelines from the past

Large-vessel stroke as a presenting feature of Covid-19 in the young

Pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients: awareness of an increased prevalence

The IMPROVEDD VTE Risk Score: incorporation of D-dimer into the IMPROVE score to improve venous thromboembolism risk stratification. TH Open

COVID-19: anticoagulation recommended even after discharge

COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system: implications for risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the Covid-19 outbreak in Italy

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COVID-19 DVT/PE Prophylaxis Guidelines Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

➢ Consider using Well's Score, ab PERC, c IMPROVEDD, d or other scoring system utilized per usual in institution Age > 65 years old e ➢ History of bedridden, hemi-paralysis