# Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment and Prophylaxis in Obstetrics Patients in a Tertiary Health Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study assessed how often pregnant women at a hospital in Saudi Arabia were evaluated for blood clot risk and given preventive treatment.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into thromboprophylaxis practices and risk factors for venous thromboembolism in obstetric patients in a Saudi Arabian setting.

## Key findings

- Over half of the patients received thromboprophylaxis regardless of their risk level.
- Obese and older women had the highest risk of venous thromboembolism.
- Low-molecular-weight heparin was the most commonly used prophylaxis for three days on average.

## Abstract

Aim

The study aimed to estimate the proportion of patients who were evaluated for thrombosis risk and received appropriate thromboprophylaxis, if indicated, in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Method

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among inpatients from May 1 to August 31, 2020, in KAUH.

Results

Out of 298 pregnant women, the mean age was 32.09 ± 5.29 years. A total of 136 (45.6%) were obese and 97 (32.6%) were overweight. There was a significant relationship between Caprini score categories and the following variables: age, body mass index (BMI), medical disease, history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), mode of delivery, prophylaxis, and its duration (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Awareness about thromboprophylaxis in reducing the risk of developing venous thrombosis has increased compared to before, with more than half of the cases receiving it regardless of the risk level. The highest risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was found in older women, obese women, and those with a previous history of DVT. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was the main prophylaxis in the hospital with an average duration of three days.