Risk factors and prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and classify risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients, as well as to evaluate medical practices regarding prophylaxis for the disease.


METHODS
An observational cross-sectional study, carried out between January and March of 2006, involving inpatients at three hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Risk stratification for VTE was based on the criteria established by the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and by the International Union of Angiology. Clinical, surgical and medication-related risk factors were analyzed. The statistical analysis of the data obtained was conducted, adopting an alpha error of 5% and 95% CI. Qualitative data were analyzed using the chi-square test, whereas quantitative data were analyzed using Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Of the 1,036 patients included (total number of admissions, 1,051), 515 (49.7%) were male, and 521 (50.3%) were female. A total of 23 risk factors for VTE were identified (total number of occurrences, 2,319). The stratified risk for VTE was 50.6%, 16.6% and 30.8% among the admissions of high-, moderate- and low-risk cases, respectively. In 73.3% of the admissions, nonpharmacological prophylaxis was not employed at any point during the study period. In 74% of those classified as high- or moderate-risk cases, no prophylactic medications were administered.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that, in the population studied, risk factors were common and that prophylactic measures were not employed in patients prone to developing VTE and its complications.
Andrade
Edson de Oliveira
Ede O
Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brasil. eandrade@vivax.com.br
Bindá
Fábio Arruda
FA
Silva
Angela Maria Melo da
AM
Costa
Thais Ditolvo Alves da
TD
Fernandes
Marcélio Costa
MC
Fernandes
Márcio Costa
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult