The frequency and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis among surgical patients receiving thromboprophylaxis at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital: a six-year retrospective cohort study.
- 1School of Medicine, Hage Geingob Campus, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
- 2Department of Human, Biology and Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
Abstract
venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the formation of clots in the deep veins. This is due to three main risk factors, namely: endothelial damage, hypercoagulability, and venous stasis. These may lead to complications affecting patient morbidity and mortality, as well as causing high healthcare costs. Prophylaxis and treatment are imperative to prevent recurrence and complications. There is, however, limited data, especially in the African context, on the efficacy of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis and its outcomes. ethical approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the University of Namibia was obtained, and a retrospective review of 42 inpatient records that met the inclusion criteria from the targeted surgical departments from January 2017 to December 2022 was conducted. despite prophylaxis, 44% of patients developed VTE, with the majority being from orthopedic surgery (50%). Most patients requiring prophylaxis were from orthopedic surgery, and among all patients requiring prophylaxis, 77% didn't receive any. The most common risk factors and complications were previous malignancy (28.6%) and pulmonary embolism (50%), respectively, and HIV infection correlated with VTE development (p=0.000147). The treatment for DVT followed the Namibian Standard Treatment Guidelines. these findings highlight the need to improve prophylactic treatment and the use of VTE prophylaxis tools, which are known to reduce VTE-related morbidity and mortality. Future research could explore the impact of inadequate VTE prophylaxis and the relationship between common comorbidities in sub-Saharan Africa and VTE prophylaxis.
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BibTeX
@article{ipinge2026frequency,
title = {{The frequency and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis among surgical patients receiving thromboprophylaxis at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital: a six-year retrospective cohort study.}},
author = {Tulipo Kisha Ipinge and Albertina Mariina Ndinelao Shatri},
journal = {The Pan African medical journal},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.11604/pamj.2026.54.38.44882},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953054},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The frequency and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis among surgical patients receiving thromboprophylaxis at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital: a six-year retrospective cohort study.
AU - Tulipo Kisha Ipinge
AU - Albertina Mariina Ndinelao Shatri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/09
JO - The Pan African medical journal
DO - 10.11604/pamj.2026.54.38.44882
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953054
AB - venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the formation of clots in the deep veins. This is due to three main risk factors, namely: endothelial damage, hypercoagulability, and venous stasis. These may lead to complications affecting patient morbidity and mortality, as well as causing high healthcare costs. Prophylaxis and treatment are imperative to prevent recurrence and complications. There is, however, limited data, especially in the African context, on the efficacy of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis and its outcomes. ethical approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the University of Namibia was obtained, and a retrospective review of 42 inpatient records that met the inclusion criteria from the targeted surgical departments from January 2017 to December 2022 was conducted. despite prophylaxis, 44% of patients developed VTE, with the majority being from orthopedic surgery (50%). Most patients requiring prophylaxis were from orthopedic surgery, and among all patients requiring prophylaxis, 77% didn't receive any. The most common risk factors and complications were previous malignancy (28.6%) and pulmonary embolism (50%), respectively, and HIV infection correlated with VTE development (p=0.000147). The treatment for DVT followed the Namibian Standard Treatment Guidelines. these findings highlight the need to improve prophylactic treatment and the use of VTE prophylaxis tools, which are known to reduce VTE-related morbidity and mortality. Future research could explore the impact of inadequate VTE prophylaxis and the relationship between common comorbidities in sub-Saharan Africa and VTE prophylaxis.
SN - 1937-8688
ER -