Frequency of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients Admitted to General Medical Unit in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Deep vein thrombosis is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients because of its close relationship with venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism. Medical inpatients represent an important at-risk population, yet locally generated data from tertiary care settings remain limited. Objective: To determine the frequency of deep vein thrombosis in patients admitted to the general medical unit of a tertiary care hospital and to examine its distribution across selected demographic and clinical risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from October 2023 to March 2024. A total of 205 adult patients admitted to the general medical ward were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Baseline demographics, smoking history, body mass index, comorbidities, and duration of admission were recorded. Patients were assessed daily for suspected deep vein thrombosis, screened clinically using the Wells score, and confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography where indicated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age was 50.38 ± 7.63 years, and 60.49% of participants were male. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed in 12 patients, yielding a frequency of 5.85%. Higher proportions were observed among patients aged ≤50 years (9.28%, p=0.048), smokers (16.28%, p=0.001), and those with chronic liver disease (14.81%, p=0.033). Gender, diabetes, chronic renal failure, and hypertension were not significantly associated. Conclusion: Deep vein thrombosis constituted a meaningful in-hospital burden among general medical patients. Structured risk assessment and strengthened thromboprophylaxis practices may help reduce preventable thromboembolic complications in tertiary care medical wards.