Arteriovenous Thrombosis among Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infected Patients: An Observational Study at a University Hospital

Context: The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 since its emergence in 2019 has led to widespread challenges in healthcare, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic. Aim: The aims of this study were to explore the prevalence of arterio-venous thrombosis (AVT) in COVID-19 patients, along with baseline characteristics and predictors of AVT. Settings and Design: This retrospective cohort study review of charts from adult patients presenting between March 1, 2020, and October 30, 2021, at King Fahd Hospital of the University. Subjects and Methods: Patients with both AVT and COVID-19 were included and categorized into groups: brain stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records, and patients were followed up 1 year after discharge. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS was used. Results: Five hundred nine adult patients were admitted with COVID-19, and 195 were diagnosed with AVT. Brain stroke, MI, PE, and DVT were observed in 48.7%, 25.6%, 10.8%, and 14.9% of cases, respectively. Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking were more prevalent among stroke patients. Follow-up revealed varying mortality rates and recurrent AVT cases among different AVT syndromes. Conclusions: The study highlights a higher incidence of AVT, particularly brain stroke, in COVID-19-positive patients, with overlapping AVT syndromes observed. The findings emphasize the intricate relationship between COVID-19 and AVT, necessitating further research and targeted interventions to address this critical aspect of the disease.