Assessment of venous thromboembolism risk and adequacy of prophylaxis in selected acute care medical centres in Arabian Gulf States: results from the ENDORSE study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in acutely ill surgical and medical patients in selected acute care centres in the Arabian Gulf States, and to determine the proportion of at-risk patients who received effective prophylaxis in accordance with 2004 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines.


METHODS
Eight hospitals from 3 countries (Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) contributed to the global ENDORSE (Epidemiological International Day for the Evaluation of Patients at Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in the Acute Hospital Care Setting) study. Medical records were reviewed for all the in-patients aged ≥40 years admitted to medical wards, and in patients aged ≥18 admitted to surgical wards. The VTE risk and recommended prophylaxis were assessed according to the 2004 ACCP guidelines.


RESULTS
Of 1,291 evaluable patients, 801 were considered at risk of VTE; 391 (48.8%) surgical patients and 410 (51.2%) medical patients. Of the 801 patients, 322 (40.2%) received ACCP-recommended VTE prophylaxis; 159 (40.7%) of surgical patients and 163 (39.8%) of medical patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed that VTE prophylaxis was underutilized in high-risk hospitalized patients. We recommend that active measures should be implemented in acute care centres in these Arabian Gulf countries to ensure identification of patients at risk of VTE and institute the appropriate prophylaxis.
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait. fsayegh63 @ gmail.com
Faisal
F
Alsayegh
Hassan
H
Kamaliddin
Eman
E
Sheshah
Nasir
N
Bukhamseen
Tarig
T
Alkhuwaitir
Ashraf
A
Elhoufi
D000208:Acute Disease; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018912:Arabs; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin