A recent study out of Denmark has found that patients who receive combinations of blood-thinning drugs after experiencing a heart attack are more likely experience bleeding requiring hospitalization. The study, published in the online journal The Lancet, looked at data from over 40,000 heart attack patients from 2000 to 2005.
When a person suffers a heart attack, doctors usually prescribe some combination of blood-thinning drugs, like aspirin, vitamin K antagonists (like Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix). However, according to this study, these combinations of drugs may not be safe for patients.
About 4.6 percent of the 40,000 people analyzed in the study were either rehospitalized due to bleeding or died as a result of bleeding during an average of 16 months after experiencing their first heart attack. Of the patients who received Plavix and Coumadin, 12.3 percent returned to the hospital for bleeding, while only 2.6 percent of those who received aspirin alone were admitted for bleeding. Of the patients who received all three types of blood-thinning drugs, 12 percent required rehospitalization for bleeding.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt by a misdiagnosis or delay in treatment of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event, call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. One of our medical malpractice attorneys will review your case for free and answer any legal questions you may have.
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