Clinical characteristics and risk factors of lower limb deep vein thrombosis in elderly patients: An 18-year retrospective study at a single center

<b>Background:</b><b><i> </i></b>Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs in the elderly is a major health problem, despite improved prophylaxis and diagnostic advances. It must be managed rapidly and effectively. The aim was to determine the main features and risk factors (RFs) of DVT in elderly patients admitted to internal medicine.<br /> <b>Methods:</b> This was a retrospective, descriptive study carried out in the internal medicine department of Hedi Chaker Hospital in Sfax, over a period of 18 years. Records of patients hospitalized in the department during this period were reviewed.<br /> <b>Results: </b>There were 102 cases, divided into 64 men (62.8%) and 38 women (37.2%), with an average age of 75.2 years. DVTs in the veins of the lower limbs were most often proximal (75%). In addition to advanced age, considered an independent RF for DVT, at least one RF for VTE was found in 54.6% of cases. Bed rest was the most frequent RF, noted in 44 cases (43.7%). A thrombogenic pathology predisposing to thrombosis was retained in 25 patients, i.e., 24.5% of cases. These were SAPL (11 cases), neoplasia (12 cases), Behçet’s disease (1 case), and hyper-homocysteinemia (2 cases).<br /> <b>Conclusion: </b>DVT in the elderly, a frequent pathology, poses above all a problem of etiological diagnosis. Identifying the RFs for recurrence in this population is important, as it enables appropriate prescription of anticoagulants. Such treatment is not without risk in elderly patients who are frequently polythematic, with a high excess risk of bleeding.