DVT Management and Outcome Trends, 2001 to 2014

Background A comprehensive evaluation of temporal trends in the treatment of patients who have DVT may assist with identification of modifiable factors that contribute to short-term outcomes. Methods We assessed temporal trends in length of hospital stay and use of pharmacological and interventional therapies among 26,695 adults with DVT enrolled in the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbólica registry between 2001 and 2014. We also examined temporal trends in risk-adjusted rates of all-cause, pulmonary embolism-related, and bleeding-related death to 30 days after diagnosis. Results The mean length of hospital stay decreased from 9.0 days in 2001 to 2005 to 7.6 days in 2010 to 2014 (P <01). For initial DVT treatment, the use of low-molecular-weight heparin decreased from 98% to 90% (P <01). Direct oral anticoagulants use increased from 0.5% in 2010 to 13.4% in 2014 (P <001). Risk-adjusted rates of 30-day all-cause mortality decreased from 3.9% in 2001 to 2005 to 2.7% in 2010 to 2014 (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; P <01). VTE-related mortality showed a nonstatistically significant downward trend (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.44-1.10; P =13), whereas 30-day bleeding-related mortality significantly decreased from 0.5% in 2001 to 2005 to 0.1% in 2010-2014 (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.77; P < .01). Conclusions This international registry-based temporal analysis identified reductions in length of stay for adults hospitalized for DVT. The study also found a decreasing trend in adjusted rates of all-cause and bleeding-related mortality.