# Risk factors, treatment outcomes and predictors of death of newly diagnosed patients with venous thromboembolism in a quaternary hospital in Ghana

## TL;DR

This study examines risk factors and outcomes for patients with venous thromboembolism in a Ghanaian hospital, finding that immobilization, age, and cancer are key predictors of death.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific risk factors and predictors of mortality for VTE patients in a Ghanaian quaternary hospital setting.

## Key findings

- Immobilization was the most common risk factor for VTE.
- In-hospital mortality was 16.3%, with 1 in 6 patients dying.
- Older age, high urea levels, and cancer were significant predictors of death.

## Abstract

To determine the sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, treatment outcomes and predictors of death of newly diagnosed patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

A retrospective study

University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) Ltd, a 650-bed quaternary hospital located in Accra, Ghana.

One hundred and eighty-six adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE), confirmed by Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), from January 2022 to April 2024, were included in this study. All patients with a differential diagnosis of DVT or PE for whom confirmation by Doppler USG and CTPA could not be obtained were excluded.

Risk factors, treatment outcomes and predictors of death of patients diagnosed with venous thromboembolism

The mean age of study participants was 62.7 years (±15.5), and a slightly higher proportion were female (n=108, 58.1%). The mortality rate was 16.3%. Close to half of the patients (n=88, 47.3%) had a history of immobilisation as the predominant risk factor for VTE. On multivariate analysis, increasing age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08), increasing urea level (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03 – 1.21) and presence of cancer (OR 6.02, 95% CI 0.003) remained significant predictors of mortality.

Immobilisation was the main risk factor for VTE in this study. In-hospital mortality was relatively high, with death in 1 in 6 patients diagnosed. Patients with advanced age, high urea and malignancy should be monitored closely and early aggressive treatment instituted to reduce mortality.

None declared