Management of ongoing direct anticoagulant treatment in patients with hip fracture

Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time from trauma to surgery and on in-hospital clinical outcomes (blood losses, need for transfusion, mortality) in patients with hip fracture. Moreover we evaluated the adherence to current guidelines regarding the time from last drug intake and surgery. In this observational retrospective study clinical records of patients admitted for hip fracture from January 2016 to January 2019 were reviewed. 74 patients were in treatment with DOACs at hospital admission. Demographic data, comorbidities and functional status before trauma were retrieved. As control group we evaluated 206 patients not on anticoagulants matched for age, gender, type of fracture and ASA score. Time to surgery was significantly longer in patients treated with DOACs (3.6 + 2.7 vs. 2.15 ± 1.07 days, p < 0.0001) and treatment within 48 h was 47% vs. 80% in control group (p < 0.0001). The adherence to guidelines’ suggested time from last drug intake to surgery was 46%. Neither anticipation nor delay in surgery did result in increased mortality, length of stay or complication rates with the exception of larger perioperative blood loss (Hb levels < 8 g/dl) in DOACs patients (34% vs 9% p < 0.0001). Present results suggest that time to surgery is significantly longer in DOAC patients in comparison to controls and adherence to guidelines still limited.