Clinical and economic burden of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in hospitalized patients undergoing percutaneous peripheral arterial interventions

Abstract

Background Percutaneous peripheral arterial intervention (PPAI) patients are at a high risk of developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia due to the need for repeated and prolonged heparin exposure. We sought to investigate the incidence, outcomes, and economic impact of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia post-PPAI utilizing the National Inpatient Sample. Methods All patients who underwent PPAI (age ≥18 years) from 2007 to 2014 were identified by using ICD-9-CM codes. Patients were then classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during hospitalization. In-hospital outcomes were compared between the two groups after propensity-score matching to account for differences in baseline characteristics. Results Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was reported in 527 patients (0.23%). After adjusting for patient-level and hospital-level characteristics, in-hospital mortality differences were not significantly different between patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia vs. those without heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (odds ratio (OR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67 to 1.57, p = 0.951). However, PPAI patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia were more likely to develop ischemic stroke (OR 3.84, 95%CI 1.26 to 11.75, p = 0.018), deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (OR 1.32, 95%CI 0.79 to 1.79, p = 0.078), and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (OR 4.04, 95%CI 1.72 to 9.50, p = 0.001). Furthermore, post-PPAI patients who developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia had longer hospitalizations (13.8 vs. 9.8 days, p < 0.0001), higher cost of stay ($62,022 vs. $44,904, p < 0.0001), and higher rates of non-routine home discharges (50.15% vs. 42.19%, p = 0.013). Conclusion Among patients who underwent PPAI, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was associated with a higher risk of venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, ischemic stroke, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, prolonged hospital stay, and increased cost.

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia for the Perioperative and Critical Care Clinician

“…Arterial thrombosis is also common in cardiac surgery patients [55]. In vascular patients, postoperative HIT is associated with longer hospitalizations, higher cost of stay, and higher rates of non-routine home discharges [56].…”