Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients Diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis

Abstract

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Its most feared complication is pulmonary thromboembolism, while post-phlebitic syndrome constitutes a chronic, disabling sequela.

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of deep vein thrombosis in patients admitted to the “Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola” Provincial General Teaching Hospital in Ciego de Ávila.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, and prospective study was conducted on patients over 18 years of age diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis between December 2023 and December 2025. Sociodemographic variables, symptoms, signs, degree of occlusion, risk factors, blood type, location, and complications were recorded.

Results: A total of 71 patients were included, with a predominance of females (53.6%) and patients in the 60–79 age group. The most common symptoms were local pain (87%), heaviness (78.8%), and hypersensitivity in the calves (76%). Notable signs included tachycardia (100%), swelling (98.5%), and pain (92.9%). Doppler ultrasound revealed total occlusion in 69% of cases. The most common risk factors were prolonged immobilization (64.7%), a history of cancer (59.1%), and recent cancer treatments (52.1%); 25.3% had a history of COVID-19. Complications included post-phlebitic syndrome (22.5%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (5.6%). The most common blood type was A Rh-positive (43.6%), and the predominant location was the left iliofemoral region (32.3%).

Conclusions: Deep vein thrombosis was characterized by a predominance among older adults, a high frequency of proximal occlusion, and an association with both classic and emerging risk factors such as COVID-19. This reinforces the need for prevention, early diagnosis, and intensive management.