Deep venous thrombosis in a university teaching hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A five-year prospective study designed to obtain information on the demographic characteristics, risk factors and complications of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in sixty six Ethiopians is reported. There were 44 females and 22 males with a female to male ratio of 2:1. Their age ranged between 13 and 80 (mean = 34 +/- 12.8) years. Fifty one subjects (77%) were below the age of 41 years. Sixty three cases (95%) presented with lower and three with upper limb DVT. In 26 females (40%) pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions such as childbirth, abortions and Caesarean section were the risk factors for their DVT. Immobilisation was considered a risk factor in 12 cases (18%) and 12 other patients did not have an apparent risk factor for their DVT. Post-thrombotic syndrome was observed in 26% of the study population during the follow up period which ranged from two months to seven years (median = 1 year). Twelve per cent of the patients developed recurrent DVT and 9% had non-fatal pulmonary embolism. Venous thrombosis is common in Ethiopians and usually affects pregnant and young adults. The risk factors and complications observed were similar to those documented in the literature.