Unified Scale for Assessing the Risk of Thromboembolic Complications – Family Doctor’s Tool for COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

At present one of the most discussed medical problem is a COVID-19 pandemic. The world has already registered 274 408 291 cases of infection, and 5 365 361 lethal consequences. This disease is already known for almost two years, but there are still no clear understanding of its pathophysiology, clinical course and optimal therapeutic tactics. In Ukraine during this period, 3,324,999 patients with COVID-19 were registered, 92,929 people died. It is known that in the course of the COVID-19, severe thromboeembolic complications are often observed. That is why the most important element of therapy in case of acute thromboembolic complications is the timely use of thromboprophylaxis. The objective: is to develop an integrative scale that will summarize the conditions associated with the risk of thrombogenic complications. Materials and methods. The literature was analyzed on the E-library, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases to study questionnaires that were previously used in the patients with a therapeutic profile. 143 patients were examined, including 119 healthy people of all ages and 24 patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) over 60 years. General clinical, neurological, instrumental and laboratory examination were conducted. Results. The «Unified scale for assessing the risk of thromboembolic complications» was developed, containing 17 questions and allowing to assess the presence of risk factors and the prognosis of thromboembolic complications. The idea of creating arose on the basis of many years of experience in studying the issues of hemorheological properties of blood, microcirculation and endothelial function in persons of different ages on the basis of the Department of Clinical Physiology and Pathology of Internal Organs of the State Institution «D. F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine» under the leadership of acad. NAMS of Ukraine Korkushko O.V. The questions used in the «Thromboembolic Complications Risk Assessment Scale» are intuitive and self-explanatory. It can be used in the form of a survey with a doctor, a nurse, and also independently in the form of a patient survey. The most convenient form of use is independently in the form of a questionnaire, and the most promising is when studying the health status of individuals in large samples, for example, in communities. The link to this questionnaire (https://forms.gle/XZwsGp5GaVuNqZeS9) was presented for the first time at the Ukrainian scientific and practical conference with international participation «Primary health care – the main component of health care in Ukraine (for the World Family Doctor Day)» of the P. L. Shupik (May 19–20, 2021). Conclusion. Blood circulation disturbances are accompanied by considerable number of pathological conditions, where early interventions and understanding of pathological mechanisms will reduce the risk of complications and prevent fatal consequences. The developed questionnaire allows, from the standpoint of both a doctor and a patient, to assess the risk of thromboembolic complications and identify risk factors for the development of thrombosis in routine clinical practice.