title: Prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical intensive care unit: a multicenter observational study in Korea.
abstract: Patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU) are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE); and prophylaxis is recommended. However, the actual range and frequency of VTE prophylaxis administered to MICU patients are not well defined. Patients over 40 yr of age and expected MICU stay of more than 48 hr were eligible for this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea. Patients already on anticoagulation therapy or those requiring anticoagulation for reasons other than VTE were excluded. Among 830 patients, VTE prophylaxis was given to 560 (67.5%) patients. Among 560 patients, 323 (38.9%) received pharmacoprophylaxis, 318 (38.4%) received mechanical prophylaxis and 81 (9.8%) received both forms of prophylaxis. About 74% of patients in the pharmacoprophylaxis group received low molecular weight heparin and 53% of the patients in the mechanical prophylaxis group used intermittent pneumatic compression. Most of the patients (90%) had more than one risk factor for VTE and the most common risk factor was old age, followed by heart and respiratory failure. In this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea, 67.5% of patients received thromboprophylaxis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role and efficacy of VTE prophylaxis in Korean critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0958-106X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Dongguk College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Kee
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Bum
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4424-7457
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moo Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hak-Ryul
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hwa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3432-3997
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sunghoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7004-6985
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D061185:Mechanical Thrombolysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
keywords: Intensive Care Units; Medical Patients; Thromboprophylaxis; Venous Thromboembolism