Title

[Thromboembolic risk and prophylaxis in hospitalized surgical and internal medicine patients. German results of the international ENDORSE study]

UMMS Affiliation

Center for Outcomes Research

Publication Date

10-15-2009

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Germany; Guideline Adherence; Hospitalization; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Thromboembolism; Young Adult

Disciplines

Health Services Research

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) leads to an increased morbidity in hospitalized patients. This multinational cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the prevalence of VTE risk factors and to determine the proportion of at-risk patients who receive effective VTE-prophylaxis. The results of the 16 participating German hospitals of the study are presented and compared with the international results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All hospital inpatients aged >or= 40 years admitted to a medical ward and all surgical inpatients aged >or= 18 years were enrolled. The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines (2004) were applied to assess VTE risk and to determine whether patients were receiving recommended VTE prophylaxis.

RESULTS: Overall, 2,370 patients were enrolled: 1,210 (51 %) were categorised as surgical and 1,160 (49 %) as acute medically ill. 838 (69 %) of surgical and 479 (41 %) of medical patients were judged to be at risk for VTE. Of the surgical patients at risk, 772 (92 %) received ACCP-recommended VTE prophylaxis, compared with 337 (70 %) medical patients at risk of VTE. Low-molecular weight heparins were most frequently used.

CONCLUSIONS: In total, in comparison to other countries, Germany has a leading position in the implementation of international guidelines with regard to VTE prophylaxis. Whereas in a surgical ward effective VTE prophylaxis is consistently standard care, in the medical indications there is still room for improvement in terms of stratification of VTE risk and corresponding VTE-prophylaxis.

DOI of Published Version

10.1055/s-0029-1241924

Source

Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2009 Oct;134(43):2163-9. Epub 2009 Oct 13. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)

Comments

Article is in German with an abstract in English.

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

19826978

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