RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Incidence of venous thromboembolism in care homes: a prospective cohort study
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP e130
OP e137
DO 10.3399/bjgp17X688873
VO 67
IS 655
A1 Patricia N Apenteng
A1 FD Richard Hobbs
A1 Andrea Roalfe
A1 Usman Muhammad
A1 Carl Heneghan
A1 David Fitzmaurice
YR 2017
UL http://bjgp.org/content/67/655/e130.abstract
AB Background Care home residents have venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk profiles similar to medical inpatients; however, the epidemiology of VTE in care homes is unclear.Aim To determine the incidence of VTE in care homes.Design and setting Observational cohort study of 45 care homes in Birmingham and Oxford, UK.Method A consecutive sample of care home residents was enrolled and followed up for 12 months. Data were collected via case note reviews of care home and GP records; mortality information was supplemented with Health and Social Care Information Centre (now called NHS Digital) cause of death data. All potential VTE events were adjudicated by an independent committee according to three measures of diagnostic certainty: definite VTE (radiological evidence), probable VTE (high clinical indication but no radiological evidence), or possible VTE (VTE cannot be ruled out). (Study registration number: ISTCTN80889792.)Results There were 1011 participants enrolled, and the mean follow-up period was 312 days (standard deviation 98 days). The incidence rate was 0.71 per 100 person years of observation (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26 to 1.54) for definite VTE, 0.83 per 100 person years (95% CI = 0.33 to 1.70) for definite and probable VTE, and 2.48 per 100 person years (95% CI = 1.53 to 3.79) for definite, probable, and possible VTE.Conclusion The incidence of VTE in care homes in this study (0.71–2.48 per 100 person years) is substantial compared with that in the community (0.117 per 100 person years) and in people aged ≥70 years (0.44 per 100 person years). Further research regarding risk stratification and VTE prophylaxis in this population is needed.