The observational study, published Thursday in the British Medical Journal, reports an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in the leg, up to three months after COVID-19 infection; pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lung, up to six months later and a "bleeding event" up to two months.
According to researchers from Umea University, these events were higher in patients with underlying health conditions and those with more severe COVID-19.
Researchers also found there were more blood clot-related events reported during the first pandemic wave, compared with the second and third waves. However, they note this could be due to improvements in treatment and vaccine coverage in older patients following the pandemic's first wave.
The study's authors say the findings suggest that COVID-19 is an "independent risk factor" for blood clots and bleeding.
Researchers say the results highlight the importance of using medical treatments such as blood thinners to prevent the development of thrombosis amid the pandemic. Such treatment is known as thromboprophylaxis.
"Our findings arguably support thromboprophylaxis to avoid thrombotic events, especially for high risk patients, and strengthen the importance of vaccination against COVID-19," the study's authors wrote...<<<Read More>>>...