Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. Despite being largely preventable, VTE continues to pose a significant clinical challenge due to under-recognition, inadequate risk assessment, and suboptimal implementation of thromboprophylaxis. Globally, VTE affects an estimated 1–2 per 1000 individuals annually, with hospital-acquired cases contributing to the majority of deaths. In the United States, VTE accounts for approximately 60,000–100,000 deaths annually, with 5–8% of the population having genetic predispositions that increase their risk. Hospital-acquired VTE is particularly concerning, representing up to 75% of all VTE-related fatalities, underscoring the importance of effective in-hospital prevention strategies. Hospitalized patients are at increased risk of VTE due to a range of clinical factors, including advanced age, prolonged immobility, malignancy, obesity, trauma, neurologic impairments, and the use of indwelling intravenous catheters. Early identification and stratification of these risk factors are essential for implementing timely and appropriate prophylactic measures. The burden of VTE is especially pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited resources, lack of standardized guidelines, and insufficient awareness among healthcare providers impede effective prevention. Addressing knowledge gaps in VTE risk assessment and prophylaxis among healthcare professionals is critical for reducing preventable morbidity and mortality. Enhanced training, adoption of standardized risk stratification tools, and implementation of evidence-based thromboprophylaxis protocols can significantly improve patient outcomes. Understanding the epidemiology, risk factors, and preventive strategies for VTE is therefore vital in optimizing hospital care, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Ufot et al. (2025) studied this question.