title: Venous thromboembolism (VTE): risk assessment in hospitalized patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of hospitalized patients at risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) / deep vein thrombosis (DVT), identifying the most common risk factor and to document the use of thromboprophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational and cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, from October to December 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 170 patients underwent this study and these included 51 (30%) from general medical, and 119 (70%) from surgical units. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined and data was collected on printed format. VTE risk assessment was done according to Caprini Model and criteria defined by the American College of Chest Physicians- ACCP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 170 patients, 91 were male and 79 female with mean age of 39 ± 16 years. According to ACCP criteria for VTE risk assessment, 20% (n=34) patients were identified to be at low risk, 20% (n=34) at moderate risk, 47.65% (n=81) at high risk and 12.35% (n=21) at very high risk of developing VTE. The commonest risk factor significantly identified was immobility (54.7%, p < 0.005), followed by advancing age (41.17%, p < 0.005) and obesity (18.23%). The most common risk factor in all types of surgical patients was anaesthesia for more than 45 minutes 82.35% (n=98/119) and in medical patients advancing age 45% (n=23/51). Only 6 (3.5%) patients received thromboprophylaxis, all were surgical patients of very high-risk category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of studied hospitalized patients were at high risk of developing VTE. Immobility was the commonest risk factor for developing VTE, followed by advancing age and obesity. Very few hospitalized patients actually received thromboprophylaxis.
authors: Department of Surgery, Chandka Medical College Hospital / SMBBMU, Larkana.
authors: Quratulain
authors: Q
authors: Soomro
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chandka Medical College Hospital / SMBBMU, Larkana.
authors: Nailla
authors: N
authors: Yousuf
authors: Department of Surgery, Chandka Medical College Hospital / SMBBMU, Larkana.
authors: Afsar Ali
authors: AA
authors: Bhutto
authors: Department of Medicine, Chandka Medical College Hospital / SMBBMU, Larkana.
authors: Hakim Ali
authors: HA
authors: Abro
authors: Department of Surgery, Chandka Medical College Hospital / SMBBMU, Larkana.
authors: Aijaz Ahmed
authors: AA
authors: Memon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants