• Gregory M Bump, Madhavi Dandu, Samuel R Kaufman, Kaveh G Shojania, and Scott A Flanders.
• Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-2582, USA. bumpgm@upmc.edu
• J Hosp Med. 2009 May 1;4(5):289-97.

ObjectivesGuidelines recommend pharmacologic prophylaxis for hospitalized medical patients at increased risk of thromboembolism. Despite recommendations, multiple studies demonstrate underutilization. Factors contributing to underutilization include uncertainty that prophylaxis reduces clinically relevant events, as well as questions about the best form of prophylaxis. We sought to determine whether prophylaxis decreases clinically significant events and to answer whether unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is either more effective or safer.Data SourcesThe MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched through June 2008. Relevant bibliographies and conference proceedings were reviewed and LMWH manufacturers were contacted.Study SelectionRandomized trials comparing UFH or LMWH to control, as well as head-to-head comparisons of UFH to LMWH in general medicine patients.Data Extraction And AnalysisEnd points of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), proximal or symptomatic DVT, pulmonary embolism, mortality, bleeding, and thrombocytopenia were extracted from individual trials. Pooled relative risks were calculated using random effects modeling.ResultsWe identified 8 trials comparing prophylaxis to control, and 6 trials comparing UFH to LMWH. Prophylaxis reduced DVT (relative risk [RR] = 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-0.92), proximal DVT (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.31-0.69), and pulmonary embolism (RR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.53-0.93). Prophylaxis increased the risk of any bleeding (RR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.15-2.06) but not major bleeding. Across trials comparing LMWH to UFH, there were no differences for any outcome.ConclusionsAmong medical patients, pharmacologic prophylaxis reduced the risk of thromboembolism without increasing risk of major bleeding. The current literature does not demonstrate superior efficacy of UFH or LMWH.(c) 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.

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