Anticoagulation with Enoxaparin in Patients with Obesity: Anticoagulation in Patients with Obesity

Obesity is a relatively common characteristic in modern western world populations and has a significant impact on the person’s health status. Despite the fact that it constitutes a well-described risk factor for thromboembolic events, the optimal anticoagulation strategy in obese patients remains vague. The available data suggest that while standard fixed enoxaparin doses (for prophylactic purposes) can lead to subtherapeutic effect, the conventional weight-based dosing schemes may result in overtreatment.  Although not particularly strong, contemporary evidence indicate that a dose reduction in morbidly obese patients will likely result in a therapeutic anti-Xa level without an increased probability for bleeding or VTE. Rhythmos 2021;16(2):34-38