Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Oct 1;17(7):e587-e592.
doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000417.

Prescribing Errors With Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Marielle Slikkerveer  1 , Afke van de Plas  1 , Johanna H M Driessen, Robin Wijngaard  1 , Frank de Vries, Renske Olie, Nathalie Meertens  2 , Patricia van den Bemt  3
Affiliations

Prescribing Errors With Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Marielle Slikkerveer et al. J Patient Saf. .

Abstract

Background: Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are used in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Bleeding is the primary major complication of LMWH therapy, which is associated with dose. The administration of appropriate dosages of LMWHs depends on the patient's risk of VTE, risk of bleeding, bodyweight, and renal function. Therefore, LMWH prescribing is prone to errors. However, no earlier study has explored the frequency of prescribing errors with LMWH.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and determinants of in-hospital LMWH-prescribing errors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the frequency and determinants of LMWH prescribing errors between April and August 2014. We randomly selected 500 patients 18 years and older with at least one LMWH prescription during inpatient hospitalization. A prescribing error was a deviation from the internal hospital guidelines. Logistic regression estimated determinants of prescribing error.

Results: A prescribing error was present with 34% of all LMWH users. The most frequently recorded error was a dose that was not adjusted to body weight and/or renal function (85%). Prophylactic LMWH prescribing in medical wards was associated with a higher risk of prescribing error as compared with surgical wards.

Conclusions: The frequency of prescribing errors was 34% in a tertiary care hospital. Being a patient with prophylactic LMWH use on a medical ward is a determinant for LMWH prescribing error. Interventions that will lead to better electronic recording of body weight and more awareness among medical doctors may reduce the total number of prescribing errors.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors disclose no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Cohen AT, Agnelli G, Anderson FA, et al. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Europe. The number of VTE events and associated morbidity and mortality. Thromb Haemost . 2007;98:756–764.
    1. Heit JA, Melton LJ 3rd, Lohse CM, et al. Incidence of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients vs community residents. Mayo Clin Proc . 2001;76:1102–1110.
    1. Anderson FA Jr, Weeler HB, Goldberg RJ, et al. The prevalence of risk factors for venous thromboembolism among hospital patients. Arch Intern Med . 1992;152:1660–1664.
    1. Heit JA, Silverstein MD, Mohr DN, et al. Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: a population-based case-control study. Arch Intern Med . 2000;160:809–815.
    1. Martinelli I, Bucciarelli P, Mannucci PM. Thrombotic risk factors: basic pathophysiology. Crit Care Med . 2010;38:S3–S9.

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources