Prevalence of venous thromboembolism risk factors in hospitalized patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and lethal disease. Assessing the risk factors will help to modify exposures. AIM: This study, assessed VTE risk factors in hospitalized patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an observational, case-control study. Three hundred and fifty (350) patients were recruited for the study: This comprised 150 medical patients, 140 surgical patients and a population of 60 healthy control group. Subjects were evaluated once using the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM). RESULTS: Over 50% of all hospitalized patients, were at risk for VTE. Surgical patients were at a higher risk than medical patients. Hemoglobin concentration was associated with the risk of VTE in surgical patients, while d-dimer was associated with VTE risk in medical patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of VTE risk factors among hospitalized patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.