Length of Anticoagulation in Provoked Venous Thromboembolism: A Multicenter Study of How Real‐World Practice Mirrors Guideline Recommendations

BACKGROUND: For more than a decade, guidelines have recommended a limited 3 months of anticoagulation for the treatment of provoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). How closely real‐world practice follows guideline recommendations is not well described. METHODS AND RESULTS: In our multicenter, retrospective cohort study, we evaluated trends in anticoagulation duration for patients enrolled in the MAQI(2) (Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative) registry who were receiving anticoagulation for a provoked VTE. The MAQI(2) registry comprises 6 centers in Michigan that manage patients' long‐term anticoagulation. We identified 474 patients on warfarin and 302 patients on direct oral anticoagulants who were receiving anticoagulation for a primary indication of provoked VTE between 2008 and 2020. Using a predefined threshold of 120 days (3 months plus a buffer period), predictors of extended anticoagulant use were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Most patients received >120 days of anticoagulation, regardless of which medication was used. The median (25th–75th percentile) length of treatment for patients taking warfarin was 142 (91–234) days and for direct oral anticoagulants was 180 (101–360) days. Recurrent VTE (odds ratio [OR], 2.75 [95% CI, 1.67–4.53]), history of myocardial infarction (OR, 3.92 [95% CI, 1.32–11.7]), and direct oral anticoagulant rather than warfarin use (OR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.59–3.08]) were independently associated with prolonged anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients with provoked VTE, most patients received anticoagulation for longer than the guideline‐recommended 3 months. This demonstrates a potential opportunity to improve care delivery and reduce anticoagulant‐associated bleeding risk.