Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in inflammatory bowel disease inpatients - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are three-times more likely to develop venous thromboembolism (VTE), and guidelines recommend prophylaxis during all hospitalizations. In this systematic review we sought to assess for the benefits and risks of VTE prophylaxis in hospitalized IBD patients. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE and others up to 2/2022, for studies on IBD inpatients treated with prophylactic anti-coagulation during hospitalization, compared to no prophylaxis. Primary efficacy and safety outcomes were any VTE and major bleeding, respectively. Results were pooled using random-effects models, calculating odds-ratios (OR) and 95% confidence-intervals (CI). The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess bias. RESULTS: We extracted data from 18 observational studies, and two randomized-trial subgroups. The studies were highly variable regarding the included populations, interventions, and outcome definitions. Meta-analysis of all studies showed a non-significant effect of prophylaxis on VTEs (OR 0.97[95%CI 0.49-1.95]). An analysis of eight lower-risk-of-bias studies showed a significant reduction in VTEs (OR 0.27[95%CI 0.13-0.55), number needed to treat(NNT) 34.8[95%CI 26.8-49.8]. A significant protective effect persisted in several subgroups. Major-bleeding was reported in three studies and showed a significant increase with prophylaxis (OR 2.02[95%CI 1.11-3.67], number needed to harm(NNH) 113.6[95%CI 40.7-very-large-number]). CONCLUSIONS: In studies with lower-risk-of-bias, a significant reduction in VTEs was shown in patients treated with VTE prophylaxis (NNT=35), which should be carefully considered against an increased major-bleeding risk (NNH=114). However current data is limited and randomized trials dedicated to IBD inpatients would aid in understating whether universal prophylaxis should be recommended.

Efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus apixaban for venous thromboembolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) including rivaroxaban and apixaban are preferred over vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus apixaban in the treatment of VTE. METHODS: We conducted an electronic search for studies that directly compared treatment with rivaroxaban and apixaban in adult patients with VTE. The relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated and pooled using a fixed-effect model unless significant heterogeneity was present (I2 > 40%), then random-effects model was used. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes were recurrent VTE (rVTE) and major bleeding events, respectively. RESULTS: Nine observational studies were included in our meta-analysis, assessing 24,156 patients for apixaban and 38,847 for rivaroxaban. Pooling of data for our primary efficacy outcome showed a trend towards lower risk of rVTE with apixaban compared to rivaroxaban (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.57-1.04, I2 = 53%). Analysis of our primary safety outcome showed a significantly lower risk of major bleeding with apixaban compared to rivaroxaban (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.61-0.76, I2 = 0%). Apixaban was associated with significantly decreased risk of net clinical harm, clinically relevant non major bleeding (CRNMB) and any bleeding, compared to rivaroxaban (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.92, I2 = 50%; RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.50-0.67, I2 = 7%; RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.70, I2 = 0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Apixaban is associated with a significantly lower risk of major bleeding compared to rivaroxaban for treatment of VTE. Given the limitations of the existing evidence, further interventional studies comparing the two drugs are needed.

Neonatal birth weight percentile following the use of sensor-augmented pump therapy in women with pre-gestational diabetes.

AIMS: To assess the effect of using sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAP) during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight percentile and other neonatal and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) treated with an insulin pump and sensor that enabled the SAP feature during pregnancy. SAP use was defined as utilization of either low-glucose suspend (LGS) or predictive LGS technology. Utilization of SAP was according to physician discretion. Differences in neonatal birth weight percentile and in other neonatal and pregnancy outcomes were compared between those who did and not use SAP. OUTCOMES: Of 142 women, 136 had type 1 diabetes, 5 type 2 diabetes and one diabetes due to pancreatectomy. 83 women used SAP and 59 did not. For the neonates of the mothers of the respective groups, the median birth weight percentiles were similar (79 and 80, pV = 0.96), as were the other neonatal outcomes assessed. The rate of cesarean section was higher in the SAP group. However, after adjusting for maternal age, BMI, and a history of severe hypoglycemic events before pregnancy, the relation between mode of delivery and the use of SAP was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In women with PGDM treated with an insulin pump and sensor, SAP use during pregnancy was not associated with higher neonatal birth weight percentile or the occurrences of other adverse neonatal or pregnancy outcomes.