Vascular thromboembolic events following COVID‐19 hospital discharge: Incidence and risk factors

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is associated with high rates of thromboembolic events in hospitalized patients. It remains to be determined if this risk persists following hospital discharge. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of outpatients recently hospitalized for COVID‐19 to determine the incidence of vascular thromboembolic events within 30 days of discharge. We investigated the risk factors associated with these events, including intensive care admission, age, and anticoagulation. RESULTS: Among 447 patients hospitalized for COVID‐19, 2.0% experienced a vascular thromboembolic event within 30 days of discharge. No risk factor variable was significantly associated with an increased risk for these events. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of vascular thromboembolic events following hospital discharge for COVID‐19 is low. These findings suggest against the routine use of postdischarge thromboprophylaxis in patients with COVID‐19.