India at high risk of Deep-Vein Thrombosis

Marking March the Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) awareness month, a survey by a group called INDORSE showed that an alarming 67% of hospitalized patients in India are at risk of DVT.

Deep vein thrombosis (throm-BO-sis), or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, usually a leg vein. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together.

The survey conducted by INDORSE (Indian observational survey on prevalence of venous thromboembolism ‘VTE’ risk and prophylaxis in the acute care hospital unit) in 2009 and analysed later on in the year 2010 showed that of the 7481 hospitalized patients from 46 hospitals across 11 states in India, 67 percent were at the risk of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and only 19 percent of these patients were given any kind of prophylaxis (prevention).

Interestingly, the southern states showed the highest rate of DVT prophylaxis and the north-east region the least, survey mentioned.

Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences Consultant-Critical Care, Animesh Gupta said,” Most DVTs occur in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis.”

He said, ” Even though DVT itself is not life threatening, the blood clot has the potential to break free and travel through the bloodstream, where it can lodge in the blood vessels of the lung (pulmonary embolism) which can cause death.”

Gupta further added that DVT can also lead to complications in the legs referred to as ‘chronic venous insufficiency’ or the ‘post-thrombotic syndrome’.

?This condition is charaterised by pooling of blood, chronic leg swelling, increased pressure, increased pigmentation or discolouration of skin and leg ulcers,? he said.

The survey was aimed to identify hospitalized patients at the risk of VTE and determine the proportion of patients who received any mode of VTE prophylaxis.

It further aimed to determine the rate of prophylaxis based on risks such as age, immobilization, obesity and disease related risks like sepsis, stroke and major surgery.