Impact of Anticoagulants and Corticosteroids on Mortality in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in the Context of COVID-19: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the challenges of managing venous thromboembolic events (VTE), with SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and progression to pulmonary embolism (PE), often resulting in elevated mortality. This retrospective case-control study evaluates the effects of anticoagulant and corticosteroid therapies on survival in DVT patients with and without COVID-19, examining factors associated with PE progression. Key clinical markers, including Sepsis-Induced Coagulopathy (SIC) scores, were assessed for their predictive value in mortality outcomes. Our findings reveal that while anticoagulants are essential in thrombotic management, they may raise cancer- or sepsis-related mortality in non-PE patients. Corticosteroids, though beneficial in severe COVID-19 cases, were linked to increased cancer-related mortality in PE patients, likely due to immunosuppression. These results underscore the need for tailored therapeutic approaches and individualized risk assessments to improve survival outcomes in high-risk populations during COVID-19.