A Characterization of Patients with Symptomatic DVT in India

Abstract number: P1043

Turpie AGG

Introduction:  There is a paucity of data regarding the profile of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and practices for its prevention in India. In this report, we describe patients with symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in India.

Methods:  The Prospective Registry On Venous thromboembolic Events (PROVE) is a multinational observational study, which enrolled consecutive patients with symptomatic DVT confirmed by ultrasound between February and June 2003.

Results:  Of 3526 patients enrolled in 19 countries in the PROVE registry, 667 were from India. Baseline characteristics for Indian patients were similar to those observed in the overall PROVE population. Compared with the overall PROVE population, the prevalence of previous DVT, PE, or superficial leg thrombosis was similar in Indian patients, but fewer patients had varicose veins (8% vs. 22%). 54% of Indian patients were located in acute care hospitals when DVT symptoms occurred and 43% were at home. This contrasted with the overall PROVE population in which most enrolled patients were at home (60%), followed by acute care hospitals (36%). Proximal + calf DVTs were found in 54% of Indian patients, proximal DVT in 17%, and calf DVT in 13%, compared with 52%, 18%, and 24% in the overall PROVE population, respectively. DVT was idiopathic in 43% of patients, following a precipitating event in 52%, and recurrent in 6% (44%, 49%, and 9% for the overall PROVE population, respectively). 7% of Indian patients with recognized DVT risk factors had received prior VTE prophylaxis (19% for the overall PROVE population).

Conclusions:  Patients with symptomatic DVT in India in the PROVE registry had similar baseline characteristics and medical histories to patients enrolled in other countries. However, very few enrolled patients at risk (5%) had received prophylaxis prior to their DVT event, perhaps representing poor awareness of the risks for VTE in these patients.