A Comparison of Patients with DVT in Asia and Europe/Australia: Findings from the PROVE Registry

Abstract number: P2238

Turpie AGG, the PROVE Investigators 

Introduction:  In Asia, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is not routine as the VTE incidence is thought to be low, although recent data challenge this view (Leizorovicz, JTH 2005). The aim of this analysis was to compare the profile of patients from the Prospective Registry On Venous thromboembolic Events (PROVE) in Asia with those in Europe/Australia.

Methods:  PROVE is a multinational, multicenter, observational study. Patients with symptomatic DVT confirmed by ultrasound were consecutively enrolled from February to June 2003.

Results:  Eligible patients (n= 3526) were divided geographically into those from Asia (n= 1695) and Europe/Australia (n= 1126). Other regions were not examined in this analysis. Patients were mainly at home or in acute care facilities when DVT symptoms occurred. Compared with patients in Europe/Australia, patients in Asia were younger (51 vs. 60 years) and more had proximal DVT (23% vs. 12%). Prior DVT, PE, and varicose veins were more prevalent in Europe/Australia (22%, 6%, and 36%, respectively) compared with Asia (14%, 2%, and 12%, respectively). The proportions of patients with an acute medical illness or surgery as a precipitating event for DVT were similar between Asia and Europe/Australia (47% vs. 44%, and 31% vs. 29%, respectively), although fewer of these patients in Asia received prophylaxis, compared with Europe/Australia (5% vs. 22%, and 9% vs. 50%, respectively).

Conclusions:  Despite differences in baseline characteristics among patients in Asia and Europe/Australia, there were few differences regarding precipitating events for DVT among these patients. The higher prevalence of proximal DVT in Asian patients is interesting as it may be due to a lower awareness for DVT in Asia, resulting in less obvious DVT events not being diagnosed. Results from the PROVE registry indicate that patients with DVT in Asia have a similar risk profile to those in Europe/Australia, and that DVT risk is currently underestimated in Asia.