PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLIC DISEASE IN A TERTIARY CENTER IN DAKAR.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a significant cardiovascular condition.
• Epidemiological data on VTE in Senegal is limited, despite its growing burden in Africa.
• VTE represents the third leading cause of cardiovascular pathologies globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of VTE within a cardiology department in Dakar, Senegal.
• To identify key risk factors associated with VTE in the study population.
• To characterize the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies employed for VTE management.

Main Methods:

• A four-year cross-sectional study (January 2019 - December 2022) was conducted at Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar.
• Included patients with imaging-confirmed VTE; data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, Wells score, etiological factors, treatments, and complications.
• Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.3.1.

Main Results:

• A VTE prevalence of 6.34% was observed in 190 analyzed patient records, with a mean age of 48.2 years and female predominance.
• Prolonged immobility (37.2%) and long-distance travel (34.4%) were the primary etiological factors.
• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were used in 41.6% of cases; mortality rate was 4.73%.

Conclusions:

• VTE is a prevalent and severe condition in Senegal, particularly affecting younger individuals.
• Prolonged immobility and long-distance travel are significant risk factors for VTE in this population.
• Further research into risk factors and optimized management strategies is essential to improve patient outcomes.