Background and Importance It is a common practice to discharge patients from the emergency department (ED) with low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH). But there is limited knowledge of the risk factors associated with drug related problems secondary to heparin treatment in patients discharged from ED.

Aim and Objectives To assess drug related problems secondary to heparin treatment in patients discharged from ED including bleeding and thromboembolic episodes.

Material and Methods Retrospective observational study. Adults patients discharged from ED with LMWH were included (February to April 2022). Study variables included comorbidities of the patient, number of drugs at discharge, drugs that may be related to bleeding episodes, length of treatment, and 30-day ED revisits. The association between 30 days ED revisits, comorbidities and patient treatment was evaluated using Ji-square or Fisher’s test.

Results Over the duration of the study 90 patients were included (mean age=73.1 years (SD 16.2); females 32 (49.2%). Reason for anticoagulation with LMWH included atrial fibrillation (32;35.6%), prophylaxis (7;7.8%) and thromboembolism (51;56.67%). Duration of treatment with heparin was less than 7 days (17;18.9%), 7 to 30 days (37;41.2%) and more than 30 days (36;40%). Of the 90 patients, 3 came back due to haemorrhage and 2 due to thromboembolism.

A greater tendency to return to the ED once discharged at 30 days was observed in patients over 80 years old (10.5% vs 1.9%; p=0.158) and in patients >10 drugs (10% vs 2%; p=0.167).

Conclusion and Relevance About a 5% of patients who were discharged with heparin from ED returned after 30 days due problems as bleeding or thromboembolism, more frequently in patients over 80 years old and polypharmacy.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest