Brief communication (Original). Prevalence and risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in hospitalized high-risk patients at a tertiary care hospital in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a silent killer in hospitalized patients. Its prevalence in Thai population may be different from Western countries. Objective: To evaluate recognized risk factors for DVT in high-risk Thai patients according to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). Methods: Hospitalized patients were prospectively enrolled at the Department of Medicine, Khon Kean Hospital. The study period was January 2010 to March 2011. Inclusion criteria were patients who were admitted with either (1) heart or respiratory failure or (2) one of the following conditions: cancer, sepsis, acute stroke, or inflammatory bowel disease. The admission length was at least four days. Patients were excluded if the hospitalization was because of venous thromboembolism or if there was a requirement for heparin therapy. Results: One hundred patients met the study criteria during the study. Of those, 5 patients (5%) had evidence of DVT by ultrasonography. None of these patients had pulmonary embolisms by computed tomographic angiography. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, only acute stroke was significantly associated with DVT. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 19.72; (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37, 284.37). DVT was the only significant factor associated with death during admission with adjusted OR of 30.76 (95% CI: 2.02, 469.03). Conclusions: The prevalence of DVT in hospitalized high-risk patients by ACCP criteria was low. Admission because of acute stroke may increase the risk of DVT and having DVT may result in high mortality.