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In their subgroup analysis of the Prospective Evaluation of Dalteparin Efficacy for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Immobilized Patients (PREVENT) Trial on the efficacy and safety of fixed low-dose dalteparin, Kucher et al¹ found that in elderly patients, dalteparin use is associated with a similar relative risk reduction as in younger patients and conclude that a fixed low dose of dalteparin is effective and safe in preventing VTE in elderly hospitalized medical patients.

This study raises 3 comments. First, the absolute thromboembolic risk in this trial is about twice higher in patients 75 years or older compared with younger patients. In fact, 33% (1226/3706) of patients who were 75 years or older account for more than 50% (76/145) of all end point thromboembolic events. We reported a similar figure in patients included in the Medical Patients with Enoxaparin (MEDENOX Trial).^2-3 Second, the thromboembolic risk in elderly patients receiving dalteparin . . . [Full Text of this Article]

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Grégoire Le Gal, MD; Dominique Mottier, MD

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Efficacy and Safety of Fixed Low-Dose Dalteparin in Preventing Venous Thromboembolism Among Obese or Elderly Hospitalized Patients: A Subgroup Analysis of the PREVENT Trial
Nils Kucher, Alain Leizorovicz, Paul T. Vaitkus, Alexander T. Cohen, Alexander G. G. Turpie, Carl-Gustav Olsson, Samuel Z. Goldhaber, and for the PREVENT Medical Thromboprophylaxis Study Group
Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(3):341-345.
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