[Suitability of the use of low-molecular-weight heparins in the prevention of venous thromboembolism].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prescription in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in a general hospital and the suitability of the recommendations from the clinical practice guidelines.


METHODS
A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study of the indication-prescription type, carried out on patients admitted to medical departments and for surgery.


RESULTS
345 patients were included. The prevalence of HBPM use was 44.6% (95% CI, 39.3-50.1). Depending on the risk of thromboembolism, the decision to treat prophylactically (or not) was appropriate in 261 cases (75.7%; 95% CI, 70.7-80.1), and the action guidelines were not suitable for the remainder of patients. 55 patients (15.9%; 95% CI, 12.2-20.2) presented a high risk and were not prescribed prophylactically (underuse); and 29 patients (8.4%; 95% CI, 5.7-11.8) at low risk were treated prophylactically (overuse). There was a relationship between the appropriateness of the prescription and the type of patient (p<0.01). In the group of medical patients the prevalence of prescription was 22.6% (95% CI, 16.9-29.1) and only 33.3% of patients with a high to moderate risk of thromboembolism received prophylaxis. The prevalence of prescription in general surgery was 84.2% and 91.3% in traumatology.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of prophylaxis is adequate in surgical patients, but there was a significant percentage of medical patients with a high to moderate risk who did not receive suitable prophylaxis (underuse), despite recommendations with scientific and professional backing.
Garrido Martínez
M T
MT
Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez. Huelva. España. mgarridom@sefh.es
Aguayo Canela
M
M
Herrera Carranza
J
J
Chaparro Moreno
I
I
Ynfante Ferrus
M
M
de la Rosa Báez
J A
JA
Fernández Lisón
L C
LC
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011996:Records; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight