A retrospective review of the use of thromboprophylaxis in patients who subsequently developed a venous thromboembolism after discharge from hospital.
BACKGROUND
Thromboprophylaxis is highly effective, safe and cost-effective. However, data from international studies have shown that many at-risk hospitalised patients do not receive appropriate prophylaxis, leaving them at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and its consequences.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether patients readmitted with a VTE to the North Shore Hospital, Auckland, received appropriate thromboprophylaxis during their index admission.


METHODS
Discharge coding was used to identify all patients admitted for VTE-related events between 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2007. Further analysis identified those patients hospitalised for any cause in the 3 months prior to the VTE event. Data were collected on patient characteristics, risk factors for VTE and the thromboprophylaxis regimen prescribed. The seventh American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines on the prevention of venous thromboembolism were used to assess VTE risk and to determine whether patients received appropriate prophylaxis.


RESULTS
Of the 962 patients admitted with a VTE event, 243 (25%) had been hospitalised within the preceding 3 months. 108 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study; 58 were categorized as medical admissions and 50 as surgical. Using the ACCP-defined criteria, 29 (50%) medical and 38 (76%) surgical patients were identified as being at increased risk of VTE. Only one third of at-risk patients received ACCP-recommended prophylaxis during their index hospital admission. More surgical patients received recommended prophylaxis than medical patients, although this was not statistically significant (37% vs 24%, p=0.3, Fisher's exact test).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant number of at-risk patients, who subsequently developed VTE after discharge from hospital, failed to receive appropriate thromboprophylaxis during their index admission. Implementing national and local strategies, to improve the use of thromboprophylaxis in hospitalised patients, may help to reduce the burden of VTE.
Wiseman
Diane N
DN
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 504, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. d.wiseman@auckland.ac.nz
Harrison
Jeff
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054869:Clinical Audit; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D053828:Stockings, Compression / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017984:Enoxaparin; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin