Anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism and portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis: guidance from the SSC of the ISTH.

While advanced liver disease was previously considered to be an acquired bleeding disorder, there is increasing recognition of an associated prothrombotic state with patients being at higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE) including portal vein thrombosis (PVT). We review the available literature on epidemiology, pathophysiology, and risk factors and provide guidance on anticoagulant management of these conditions in adults with cirrhosis. In patients with Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis and AF, we recommend anticoagulation with standard-dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in accordance with cardiology guideline recommendations for patients without liver disease. In those with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis, there is inadequate evidence with respect to the benefit and risk of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF. In patients with cirrhosis and acute deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, we recommend anticoagulation and suggest use of either a DOAC or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)/vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis and LMWH alone (or as a bridge to VKA in patients with a normal baseline international normalized ratio) in Child-Pugh C cirrhosis. We recommend anticoagulation for patients with cirrhosis and symptomatic PVT. We suggest anticoagulation for those with asymptomatic, progressing PVT and recommend continuing extended anticoagulation for liver transplant candidates with PVT.

Who dies from venous thromboembolism after hospitalisation for other reasons in England?: a national retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with hospital-associated thrombosis (HAT) accounting for at least half of VTE. We set out to understand more about deaths from HAT in England, to focus improvement efforts where they are needed most. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort combining death certification and hospital activity data to identify people with an inpatient or day case hospitalisation where no VTE diagnosis was recorded, and who died from VTE in a hospital or within 90 days of discharge, between April 2017 and March 2020. SETTING: All deaths occurring in England and all National Health Service-funded hospital care in England. PARTICIPANTS: After 0.1% of cases were excluded due to duplicate but conflicting records, a cohort of 13 995 deaths remained; 54% were women, and 26% were aged under 70 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of age, gender, primary diagnosis, type of admission, specialties and (for day cases) procedure types were preplanned. RESULTS: Only 5% of these deaths followed planned inpatient admissions. Day case admissions preceded 7% of VTE deaths. Emergency inpatient admissions, medical specialties and infection-related primary diagnoses predominated in people who died from VTE after hospitalisation where no VTE diagnosis was recorded. Most deaths occurred in a hospital or within 30 days of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: International efforts to reduce HAT historically focused on planned inpatient admissions. Further initiatives and research to prevent deaths from VTE after hospitalisation should focus on the emergency care pathway where most deaths occurred, with people undergoing day case procedures an important additional focus.

Does the Use of Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays for Periprocedural Hemostasis Management in Liver Disease Improve Clinical Outcomes?

Routine hemostasis parameters such as prothrombin time and fibrinogen are frequently abnormal in patients with chronic liver disease and have been demonstrated to be poor predictors for periprocedural bleeding. Alterations in procoagulant and anticoagulant factors in this population result in a state of rebalanced hemostasis, which is not reflected by routine hemostatic measures. Viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHA) present a point of care measure of global hemostasis with an emerging role in guiding transfusion in the liver transplant setting. The potential role for VHA in guiding periprocedural transfusion is unknown. Here we critically appraise the available limited evidence on the use of VHA to guide prophylactic treatment in patients with cirrhosis undergoing procedures. We assess whether the impact of a VHA-guided approach improves clinical outcomes. Suggested areas for future research with a focus on clinically relevant outcomes, particularly periprocedural bleeding, are highlighted.

Psychological differences and similarities between vegans, prospective vegans, and vegetarians. Motivation, knowledge, vegan literacy - and cheese.

Introduction: Although vegan and vegetarian diets and lifestyles differ significantly from each other, among other things, notably in their respective consequences regarding animal welfare and their ecological impact, vegans and vegetarians are often grouped together and usually compared to omnivores in psychological research. Considering that vegans and vegetarians often share similar motives for their lifestyle choices, namely animal and environmental issues, the question arises why similar motives lead to different conclusions and correspondingly different behaviors, most notably, of course, that vegetarians consume animal-derived foods such as cheese or milk while vegans do not consume animal-derived products (e.g., food, cosmetic products). This is why this study explored the psychological differences between vegans, vegetarians, and prospective vegans - the latter group being located in an intermediate, transitionary position. Focusing on the motivational, affective and cognitive components of dietary transition and participants' adherence to eating patterns, reasons for said patterns, possible hinderances to becoming vegan, the role of participants' social environments, and the impact of various misconceptions regarding the feasibility of a vegan diet in everyday life were all explored. Methods: An observational study was conducted via online questionnaire (1420 participants). Results: Significant differences were found between vegans, prospective vegans, and vegetarians, especially concerning their knowledge of issues pertaining to their respective lifestyles. Discussion: The critical role of knowledge is invoked as an explanation as to why vegans and vegetarians display different behaviors although they share a similar motivation. Thus, in this study the concept of vegan literacy is introduced. Additionally, the distinctive role of cheese is explored, discussing possible indications of its potentially addictive nature and, consequently, the importance of cheese as a hindering factor for pursuing a vegan diet.

Advances and current research in primary thromboprophylaxis to prevent hospital-associated venous thromboembolism.

Hospital-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is defined as any case of VTE occurring during hospital admission and for up to 90 days post discharge. It accounts for over 50% of all cases of VTE internationally; indeed, there are an estimated 10 million cases of hospital-associated VTE annually. Over the last decade, there has been increasing interest in improving VTE risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis. This review summarises all the recent and ongoing major research studies and future challenges in the different areas, including medical, surgical and obstetric patients, as well as special areas such as lower limb immobilisation. We include sections on both pharmacological and mechanical thromboprophylaxis.

The role of health policy in the prevention of venous thromboembolism in the UK National Health Service-Learning from the past, looking to the future.

Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death globally and many diagnoses are preventable. The UK NHS has led international efforts to reduce VTE, particularly hospital-associated VTE, through coordinated national policy action and world-leading research. Despite this, VTE remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK, as underlined by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Future reductions in VTE incidence/deaths will require progress on several fronts: a better understanding of case mix; revisiting VTE risk assessment, focussing on thromboprophylaxis failure and improving awareness of VTE amongst clinicians and the public. Changes to healthcare delivery, with care increasingly delivered outside of hospital, alongside changing disease patterns, including the rise in obesity, have huge implications for VTE and will dramatically alter prevention. The UK, with its nationalised healthcare model and long history of policy action on VTE, provides a unique lens through which to study past successes and future priorities for VTE prevention.

Rates of venous thromboembolism associated with acute psychiatric admission: A retrospective cohort study.

The present study aimed to identify rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) amongst patients treated in inpatient mental health units using linked primary care and mental health care records. Patients resident in the London Borough of Lambeth admitted to mental health units in Southeast London between January 2008 and March 2019 were included, as well as a control group of patients being treated in the community for mental illness. The primary outcome measure was a diagnosis of VTE being recorded in GP records during or within 3 months of an admission to a mental health unit. For 7,198 psychiatric inpatient admissions, 11 episodes of VTE (1.5/1,000 admissions) were identified, with no VTE cases identified in 4,561 patients being treated in the community for mental illness during an equivalent window. This finding indicates that VTE rates following psychiatric inpatient admission might be similar to those following unselected acute medical admission. Larger scale studies are required to confirm the estimated incidence of VTE in patients with mental health conditions and the contribution of acute psychiatry hospitalisation to VTE risk.

Systematic review of the use of ultrasound for venous assessment and venous thrombosis screening in spaceflight.

The validity of venous ultrasound (V-US) for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during spaceflight is unknown and difficult to establish in diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic management studies in this context. We performed a systematic review of the use of V-US in the upper-body venous system in spaceflight to identify microgravity-related changes and the effect of venous interventions to reverse them, and to assess appropriateness of spaceflight V-US with terrestrial standards. An appropriateness tool was developed following expert panel discussions and review of terrestrial diagnostic studies, including criteria relevant to crew experience, in-flight equipment, assessment sites, ultrasound modalities, and DVT diagnosis. Microgravity-related findings reported as an increase in internal jugular vein (IJV) cross-sectional area and pressure were associated with reduced, stagnant, and retrograde flow. Changes were on average responsive to venous interventions using lower body negative pressure, Bracelets, Valsalva and Mueller manoeuvres, and contralateral IJV compression. In comparison with terrestrial standards, spaceflight V-US did not meet all appropriateness criteria. In DVT studies (n = 3), a single thrombosis was reported and only ultrasound modality criterion met the standards. In the other studies (n = 15), all the criteria were appropriate except crew experience criterion, which was appropriate in only four studies. Future practice and research should account for microgravity-related changes, evaluate individual effect of venous interventions, and adopt Earth-based V-US standards.

Development and validation of a clinical prediction model for 90-day venous thromboembolism risk following total hip and total knee arthroplasty: a multinational study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is 1.0% to 1.5%, despite uniform thromboprophylaxis. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a prediction model for 90-day VTE risk. METHODS: A multinational cohort study was performed. For model development, records were used from the Oxford Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and Office of National Statistics UK routine data. For external validation, data were used from the Danish Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Registry, the National Patient Registry, and the National Prescription Registry. Binary multivariable logistic regression techniques were used for development. RESULTS: In the UK data set, 64 032 THA/TKA procedures were performed and 1.4% developed VTE. The prediction model consisted of age, body mass index, sex, cystitis within 1 year before surgery, history of phlebitis, history of VTE, presence of varicose veins, presence of asthma, history of transient ischemic attack, history of myocardial infarction, presence of hypertension and THA or TKA. The area under the curve of the model was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.63-0.67). Furthermore, 36 169 procedures were performed in the Danish cohort, of whom 1.0% developed VTE. Here, the area under the curve was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.61-0.67). The calibration slope was 0.92 in the validation study and 1.00 in the development study. CONCLUSION: This clinical prediction model for 90-day VTE risk following THA and TKA performed well in both development and validation data. This model can be used to estimate an individual's risk for VTE following THA/TKA.

Effects of whole-body vibration or resistive-vibration exercise on blood clotting and related biomarkers: a systematic review.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) and resistive vibration exercise (RVE) are utilized as countermeasures against bone loss, muscle wasting, and physical deconditioning. The safety of the interventions, in terms of the risk of inducing undesired blood clotting and venous thrombosis, is not clear. We therefore performed the present systematic review of the available scientific literature on the issue. The review was conducted following the guidelines by the Space Biomedicine Systematic Review Group, based on Cochrane review guidelines. The relevant context or environment of the studies was "ground-based environment"; space analogs or diseased conditions were not included. The search retrieved 801 studies; 77 articles were selected for further consideration after an initial screening. Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. The main variables related to blood markers involved angiogenic and endothelial factors, fibrinolysis and coagulation markers, cytokine levels, inflammatory and plasma oxidative stress markers. Functional and hemodynamic markers involved blood pressure measurements, systemic vascular resistance, blood flow and microvascular and endothelial functions. The available evidence suggests neutral or potentially positive effects of short- and long-term interventions with WBV and RVE on variables related to blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, inflammatory status, oxidative stress, cardiovascular, microvascular and endothelial functions. No significant warning signs towards an increased risk of undesired clotting and venous thrombosis were identified. If confirmed by further studies, WBV and RVE could be part of the countermeasures aimed at preventing or attenuating the muscular and cardiovascular deconditioning associated with spaceflights, permanence on planetary habitats and ground-based simulations of microgravity.

How to manage hemostasis in patients with liver disease during interventions.

Patients with advanced chronic liver disease (CLD) often need procedures to both treat and prevent complications of portal hypertension such as ascites or gastrointestinal bleeding. Abnormal results for hemostatic tests, such as prolonged prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and/or thrombocytopenia, are commonly encountered, raising concerns about increased bleeding risk and leading to transfusion to attempt to correct prior to interventions. However hemostatic markers are poor predictors of bleeding risk in CLD, and routine correction, particularly with fresh frozen plasma and routine platelet transfusions, should be avoided. This narrative review discusses the hemostatic management of patients with CLD using 2 case descriptions.

The "lived" experience of menstruating women commencing anticoagulants.

Background: Although there is increased recognition that many menstruating women commenced on anticoagulants experience heavy menstrual bleeding, little research has been published describing what women go through and actually experience. Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the "lived" experience of menstruating women commencing anticoagulants. Methods: We undertook a qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Women who had taken part in the parent PERIOD study and expressed an interest in an in-depth interview were recruited. Interviews were conducted online, and transcripts were generated through MS Teams. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethics committee approval: REC reference: 19/SW/0211. Results: A total of 15 participants were interviewed. The median age of the participants was 36 years (range, 20-49 years). The following 7 primary themes emerged from the interviews: (1) information received when commencing anticoagulation, (2) mood, (3) strategies used to manage heavy bleeding, (4) social/family life, (5) work life, (6) finances, and (7) multiple health issues-with saturation of themes achieved following 9 interviews. Women affected by heavy menstrual bleeding experienced a negative change in their work/social life and mood. Conclusion: Heavy menstrual bleeding experienced by women commencing anticoagulants has a significant impact on their lives. Recognized measures should be employed to support and minimize the problem for menstruating people.

How do anticoagulants impact menstrual bleeding and quality of life? - The PERIOD study.

Background: There is increasing recognition that menstruating women prescribed anticoagulants experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the extent of bleeding in menstruating women after commencing anticoagulants and the impact it has on their quality of life. Methods: Women aged 18 to 50, initiated on anticoagulant therapy, were approached to take part in the study. In parallel, a control group of women was also recruited. Women were asked to complete the menstrual bleeding questionnaire and a pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC) during their next 2 menstrual cycles. Differences between the control and anticoagulated group were compared. Significance was considered at < .05. Ethics committee approval: REC reference: 19/SW/0211. Results: Fifty-seven women in the anticoagulation and 109 women in the control group returned their questionnaires. Women in the anticoagulated group reported an increase in the median length of their menstrual cycle from 5 to 6 days after commencing anticoagulation, compared to 5 days for women in the control group (P < .05). Anticoagulated women reported significantly higher PBAC scores as compared to the control group (P < .05), with two-thirds of women in the anticoagulation group reporting heavy menstrual bleeding. Women in the anticoagulation group reported worsening quality of life scores following the initiation of anticoagulation, compared with women in the control group (P < .05). Conclusion: Heavy menstrual bleeding occurred in two-thirds of women commencing anticoagulants, who completed a PBAC, which had negative impact on their quality of life. Clinicians commencing anticoagulation therapy should be mindful of this, and recognized measures should be taken to help minimize this problem for menstruating individuals.