Current Practice Trends for Use of Early Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract BACKGROUND Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Guidelines recommend early VTE prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE To determine characteristics associated with early chemoprophylaxis (CP) after ICH in the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry. METHODS In this observational cohort study, we identified patients with ICH between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2013, who (1) were non-ambulatory and/or not comfort care measures by hospital day 2; (2) were not transferred to another acute care facility; and (3) had known VTE prophylaxis status at end of hospital day 2. Categories for VTE prophylaxis were as follows: (1) mechanical non-CP or (2) CP with or without mechanical prophylaxis. Early prophylaxis was defined as occurring by hospital day 2. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed patient, hospital, and geographic factors independently associated with early CP use. RESULTS Among 74 283 patients with ICH from 1358 hospitals, 5929 (7.9%) received early CP, 66 444 (89.4%) received early mechanical/non-CP, and 1910 (2.6%) had no prophylaxis, mechanical or CP, within the first 2 days. There was no increase in early CP use over the study period; 60% of hospitals provided early CP to <9% of patients. In multivariable analysis, female sex, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, coronary, carotid, and peripheral artery disease, prior ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, hospital size >500 beds, and geographic region were independently associated with early vs no early CP use. CONCLUSION Nationwide, the large majority of ICH patients receive early mechanical VTE prophylaxis only, without CP. Patient comorbidities and hospital characteristics such as geographic location are determinants of higher use of early CP.