Variation in prophylactic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism among acute stroke patients

Asians were known to have relatively lower incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) compared with Caucasians. We aimed to evaluate rates of prophylactic anticoagulation among Korean acute stroke patients who are at high-risk for developing DVT. Of 1295 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were at high-risk for developing DVT, anticoagulation was used in only 21 patients (1.6%; 95% Confidence Interval, 0.9–2.3) during admission. The use of anticoagulation did not differ in relation to age, stroke severity, leg motor weakness, or functional outcomes at discharge. Prophylactic anticoagulation was rarely used in Korean stroke patients who were at high-risk for developing DVT.