Epidemiological African day for evaluation of patients at risk of venous thrombosis in acute hospital care settings

Acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complication in patients hospitalised for a wide variety of acute medical and surgical conditions.1,2 In developed countries, VTE is the most common preventable cause of death among hospitalised patients. Over the last 30 years, extensive research has demonstrated a high risk of VTE in patients who undergo major surgery or experience severe trauma. Patients hospitalised for acute medical illness have approximately the same level of VTE risk as patients who undergo major general surgery.3-5The benefits of VTE prophylaxis are similar for both medical and moderate-risk surgical patients.6,7 VTE prophylaxis is substantially underused. There is great variation in the use of prophylaxis between countries. Even when prophylaxis is used, it may be used sub-optimally.8-10 Although some surveys and studies suggest that physicians have begun to recognise VTE as a serious health problem and use prophylaxis for at least some high-risk patients, a number of recent studies demonstrate that VTE prophylaxis remains underutilised.11-20