Thromb Haemost 2011; 105(02): 239-244
DOI: 10.1160/TH10-08-0506
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Inconsistencies in the planning of the duration of anticoagulation among outpatients with acute deep-vein thrombosis

Results from the OTIS-DVT Registry
David Spirk*
1   Medical Department, sanofi-aventis (suisse) sa, Meyrin, Switzerland
,
Marc Husmann*
2   Clinic of Angiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Torsten Willenberg
3   Division of Vascular Medicine, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
,
Martin Banyai
4   Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
,
Ulrich Frank
5   Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Chur, Chur, Switzerland
,
Thomas Baldi
6   Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Beatrice Amann-Vesti
2   Clinic of Angiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Iris Baumgartner
3   Division of Vascular Medicine, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
,
Nils Kucher
3   Division of Vascular Medicine, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
› Institutsangaben

Financial support: This study was funded by sanofi-aventis (suisse) sa, Meyrin, Switzerland.
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Publikationsverlauf

Received: 03. August 2010

Accepted after major revision: 17. September 2010

Publikationsdatum:
25. November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Three-month anticoagulation is recommended to treat provoked or first distal deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), and indefinite-duration anticoagulation should be considered for patients with unprovoked proximal, un-provoked recurrent, or cancer-associated DVT. In the prospective Out-patient Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Switzerland (OTIS-DVT) Registry of 502 patients with acute objectively confirmed lower extremity DVT (59% provoked or first distal DVT; 41% unprovoked proximal, unprovoked recurrent, or cancer-associated DVT) from 53 private practices and 11 hospitals, we investigated the planned duration of anticoagulation at the time of treatment initiation. The decision to administer limited-duration anticoagulation therapy was made in 343 (68%) patients with a median duration of 107 (interquartile range 91–182) days for provoked or first distal DVT, and 182 (interquartile range 111–184) days for unprovoked proximal, unprovoked recurrent, or cancer-associated DVT. Among patients with provoked or first distal DVT, anticoagulation was recommended for <3 months in 11%, ≥3 months in 63%, and for an indefinite period in 26%. Among patients with unprovoked proximal, unprovoked recurrent, or cancer-associated DVT, anticoagulation was recommended for <6 months in 22%, 6–12 months in 38%, and for an indefinite period in 40%. Overall, there was more frequent planning of indefinite-duration therapy from hospital physicians as compared with private practice physicians (39% vs. 28%; p=0.019). Considerable inconsistency in planning the duration of anticoagulation therapy mandates an improvement in risk stratification of outpatients with acute DVT.

* Both authors contributed equally.