Efficacy and safety of bemiparin as treatment of venous thromboembolic disease in the elderly.

Background: As the elderly population continues to grow worldwide, it becomes crucial to explore safe and effective treatment options to manage venous thromboembolic disease in this vulnerable demographic group. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study (January 2017–December 2021) to analyse the efficacy and safety of bemiparin as a treatment for venous thromboembolic disease in 223 patients. We compared patients aged ≥65 years (elderly; n = 153) with patients aged less than 65 years (adults; n = 70) for a combined end point of death, recurrent thromboembolism, and major bleeding at 30 days. Results: Elderly (mean age 79 ± 7.7 years) and adult patients (mean age 51.5 ± 11.6 years) received similar bemiparin doses 8470 ± 2362 International units (IU)/d versus 8754 ± 1593 IU/d, during a similar median [Interquartile range] period of 28 [9–118] versus 30 [10–90] days, respectively. At 30‐day follow up a total of 24 elderly patients (15.7%), reached at least one of the end points, as compared with six adult patients (8.6%) (absolute difference 7.1%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], −1.6 to 15.8). Recurrence of venous thromboembolic disease occurred in five elderly patients (3.3%) and in five adult patients (7.1%) (absolute difference −3.9%; 95% CI, −10.5 to 2.8). There were two episodes of major bleeding each in elderly (1.3%) and adult (2.9%) patients (absolute difference −1.6%; 95% CI, −5.8 to 2.7). Conclusion: Bemiparin showed a similar efficacy and safety profile in the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease in elderly and adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]