Screening Protocol and Prevalence of Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Hospitalized Patients With COVID‐19

Background SARS‐CoV‐2 disease (COVID‐19) induces endothelial damage and sustained hypoxia and facilitates immobilization as factors of hypercoagulability. Objectives The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) in COVID‐19 patients and the usefulness of VTD screening based on age‐adjusted D‐dimer and point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS). Patients/Methods We conducted a single cohort, prospective observational study in 102 consecutive hospitalized patients. Results A total of 102 POCUS and 39 pulmonary computed tomography angiography (PCTA) were performed diagnosing 27 VTD (26.5%): 17 deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (16.6% positive POCUS) and 18 pulmonary embolism (PE) (46.2% positive PCTA). COVID‐19 patients with VTD were older (P