A Pharmacoeconomics Study for Anticoagulants used for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf city –Iraq(Conference Paper)#

Abstract

Hematologic complications are one of the major consequences in patients with COVID-19 infection. Anticoagulants were used to mitigate COVID-19 related coagulopathy such as Enoxaparin and unfractionated Heparin.To investigate the differences between Enoxaparin and unfractionated Heparin using a cost-effectiveness analysis that compares the clinical outcome and the costs of two anticoagulants. . A retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized, severe to critical COVID-19 infected patients was conducted at Al-Amal hospital at Al-Najaf city-Iraq from August 2020 to June 2021. D-dimer level, length of stay (LOS), and survival rate were used to assess the effectiveness, and the cost of both medications was also evaluated for comparison. . One hundred and forty-four COVID-19 infected patients were enrolled and divided into Heparin group N=72, and Enoxaparin group N=72. COVID-19 infected patients had a higher level of D-dimer than the reference range (2534.675 ng/dl). No significant differences in average D-dimer between both genders. There was a significant difference between patients' ages ≥60 years and patients <60. Higher D-dimer levels were associated with a higher mortality rate. Heparin was more effective in decreasing D-dimer levels than Enoxaparin which inversely increased the D-dimer levels. Additionally, Heparin was associated with higher survival rate compared to Enoxaparin. It was associated with a longer duration of stay in hospital than Enoxaparin however, no significant difference was observed. Heparin cost/per patient/per day was less than Enoxaparin. . Heparin was a more cost-effective anticoagulant therapy compared to Enoxaparin, it was associated with a lower cost and better effect.