[Frequency and incidence of venous thromboembolism in a general hospital]

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in an Argentine universitary hospital. We used a longitudinal, retrospective, observational design. Participants were all over-16 year patients who were discharged or died in clinical, obstetrical and surgical units in the Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín during a 24 month period between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003, with a diagnosis on release of VTE. VTE frequency reached 0.92% and incidence was 0.40%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.37 to 0.42%. Incidence was highest in the 9th decade of life (0.80%; 95% CI: 0.78% to 0.82%). Only 31% of patients who developed VTE during hospitalization had received thromboprophylaxis. Total in-hospital mortality of VTE patients was 19%.