Trends of Hospital-Acquired Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in an Academic Medical Center in China from 2007 to 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics and changing trends in the incidence of hospital-acquired lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (HA-LEDVT) in Chinese inpatients over the course of 15 years.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of the HA-LEDVT events in a medical center between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2021.

Results

A total of 846,347 eligible patients were analyzed. The overall incidence of HA-LEDVT was 2.53 per 1,000 admissions. The incidence was 0.22 and 4.20 per 1,000 admissions in 2007 and 2017, respectively (P < 0.01). Medical patients had a higher incidence of HA-LEDVT than surgical patients (3.19 vs. 2.14 per 1,000 admissions; P < 0.01). The incidence of HA-LEDVT increased from 0.28 to 11.90 per 1,000 admissions for those aged 17–29 years and 80–89 years, respectively (P < 0.01). The increase in HA-LEDVT incidence mainly occurred in patients aged ≥60 years. The median length of stay of HA-LEDVT patients was longer than that of other eligible patients (17 vs. 7 days; P < 0.01). Most of the HA-LEDVT events (77.8%) were diagnosed between hospital day 3 and 15, and the time from admission to HA-LEDVT diagnosis decreased by year. The rate of vascular surgery consultation for diagnosed or suspected HA-LEDVT and HA-LEDVT-related discharge instructions both decreased by half gradually over the 15 years of this study. Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) accounted for 83.3% of all HA-LEDVT events, and the proportion increased significantly from 62.5% in 2007 to 88.7% in 2021 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The incidence of HA-LEDVT has been high in the Chinese population. More high-quality prospective studies are needed to guide prevention of HA-LEDVTs.