Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic lower extremity deep venous thrombosis in Asian neurorehabilitation admissions in Singapore.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the local prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT) among neurorehabilitation admissions.


METHODS
A prospective observational single-center study.


METHODS
Tertiary rehabilitation center affiliated to a public hospital.


METHODS
A total of 419 Asian neurorehabilitation admissions with a mean of 26 days to rehabilitation.


METHODS
Admission screening protocol included quantitative D-dimer assay within 24 to 48 hours of rehabilitation admission and targeted hemiplegic/weaker lower-extremity venous duplex ultrasonography was performed if D-dimer assay level was elevated at 0.34 microg/mL or higher.


METHODS
There were 251 (59.9%) men, and the subjects were predominantly Chinese (76.6%). Subjects had a mean age of 59+/-15 years. Admitting diagnoses included ischemic stroke (212), hemorrhagic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (129), traumatic brain injury (59), and nontraumatic brain injury (19). The screening protocol included a quantitative D-dimer assay within 24 to 48 hours of rehabilitation admission, and hemiplegic/weaker lower-extremity venous duplex ultrasonography was performed if D-dimer assay level was elevated at 0.34 microg/mL or higher.


RESULTS
Altogether, 247 (58.9%) patients had an elevated D-dimer assay, and all underwent venous duplex ultrasonography. The incidence of lower-limb DVT was 5.01% (21), including 11 proximal and 10 distal DVT. No patients had clinical pulmonary embolism. Using 247 venous duplex ultrasonography results for analyses of correlates with logistic regression analyses, no significant demographic or clinical predictive factors for DVT were found.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that asymptomatic lower limb DVT is indeed uncommon in Asian neurorehabilitation admissions. Possible reasons include genetic or ethnic protective factors, early walking initiated at rehabilitation, and timing of the admission protocol (median of 14 days postevent) when the maximal thrombotic risk was on the decline.
Chua
Karen
K
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Republic of Singapore. Karen_Chua@ttsh.com.sg
Kong
Keng He
KH
Chan
Siew Pang
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D