Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis: Need for Continuous Assessment Due to Changes in Risk During the Same Hospitalization

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk reassessment in hospitalized medically ill patients without a change in level of care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this exploratory retrospective study, the medical records of 171 consecutive adult patients (≥18 years) hospitalized under the medicine service for more than 3 days without a change in the level of care from January 1, 2015, to March 1, 2015, were reviewed. The primary outcome was a change in the risk score between day 1 and day 3 of hospital stay (using the Padua Prediction Score). The secondary outcomes were changes in risk stratification class (low vs high) and cost-benefit analysis. RESULTS: The risk score was significantly different between day 1 and day 3 (4.7±1.7 vs 4.2±1.8; P=.008). All the patients with low risk on day 1 remained at low risk on day 3. However, 25 of 136 patients (18.4%) with high risk on day 1 were reclassified as low risk on day 3 (P<.001). No patients changed from low risk to high risk at day 3. The reclassification could have saved $35 per patient-day of inappropriate pharmacological prophylaxis in addition to patient discomfort, bleeding risk, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to suggest the need for regular assessment for VTE risk on medicine wards because of changing patient risk. Regular reassessment could reduce health care waste and patient discomfort.