Exploring the Therapeutic Role of Early Heparin Administration in ARDS Management

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe respiratory condition characterized by a high mortality rate. Heparin, with its anticoagulant and potential anti-inflammatory properties, offers a new therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of ARDS. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the MIMIC-IV database for ARDS patients who received prophylactic heparin within the first 72 hours of ICU admission. Patients who received prophylactic heparin had a significantly lower in-hospital mortality rate compared to those who did not (13.55% vs 17.93%, HR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.93, P=0.012). This result remained significant after propensity score matching （12.75%vs17.93%，HR=0.65，95% CI：0.47-0.90，P=0.010）. Analysis using five different statistical models indicated that early use of heparin significantly reduced the in-hospital mortality rate. This research highlights that early prophylactic administration of heparin may substantially lower mortality in ARDS patients, offering a new perspective and novel strategies for clinical treatment.