Key result
Severe extracranial anticoagulant-related bleeding requiring ICU admission is increasing and linked to ~27% mortality.
Why the study?
Limited data exist regarding the characteristics and management of patients admitted to ICUs for severe anticoagulant-related extracranial bleeding.
Observational (n=486)
Yes
Severe extracranial anticoagulant-related bleeding requiring ICU admission has a rising incidence, high mortality (27%), and suboptimal adherence to reversal guidelines.
Alerts clinicians to rising ICU burden of anticoagulant bleeding; extends observational data but leaves open prevention trials.
BACKGROUND: Anticoagulants are widely used but can lead to iatrogenic events such as bleeding. Limited data exists regarding the characteristics and management of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) for severe anticoagulant-related extracranial bleeding. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in five French ICUs. From January 2007 to December 2018, all patients aged over 18 years admitted to ICU for extracranial bleeding while receiving therapeutic anticoagulation were included. RESULTS: 486 patients were included, mainly male (61%) with an average age of 73 ± 13 years. Most patients had comorbidities, including hypertension (68%), heart disease (49%) and diabetes (33%). Patients were treated by vitamin K antagonists (VKA, 54%), heparins (25%) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC, 7%). The incidence of patients admitted to ICU for anticoagulant-related bleeding increased from 3.2/1000 admissions in 2007 to 5.8/1000 in 2018. This increase was particularly high for DOAC class. Upon admission, patients exhibited severe organ failure, as evidenced by a high SOFA score (7 ± 4) and requirement for organ support therapies such as vasopressors (31.5%) and invasive mechanical ventilation (34%). Adherence to guidelines for the specific treatment of anticoagulant-related bleeding was generally low. ICU mortality was 27%. In multivariate analysis, five factors were independently associated with mortality: chronic hypertension, need for vasopressors, impaired consciousness, hyperlactatemia and prolonged aPTT > 1.2. CONCLUSION: Anticoagulant-related extracranial bleeding requiring ICU admission is a serious complication responsible for organ failure and significant mortality. Its incidence is rising. The therapeutic management is suboptimal and could be improved by educational programs.
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Botrel et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Extracranial anticoagulant-related bleeding (n=486). Therapeutic anticoagulation was evaluated on ICU mortality. Severe extracranial anticoagulant-related bleeding requiring ICU admission is increasing in incidence and is associated with severe organ failure and a 27% ICU mortality rate.
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