Bridging the mind and body: exploring venous thromboembolism in psychiatric inpatients

ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify factors associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis in psychiatric inpatients in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case-control chart review of patients admitted to the Dube Centre for Mental Health from January 2007 to December 2021. Cases were individuals aged 18 years and older who received anticoagulation for VTE treatment. Controls were randomly selected, with case-to-control ratio 1:4, from patients with a discharge diagnosis not including VTE. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, univariate, followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with VTE diagnosis.ResultsA total of 32 VTE and 159 non-VTE patients were included. The mean age of VTE patients was 52 years (standard deviation [SD] = 19.7), 65.6% were female, and 65.6% had no previous VTE. Comorbidities including cancer (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 51.83; <i>p</i> = .004), cardiovascular conditions (AOR = 7.83; <i>p</i> = .01), and insomnia (AOR = 88.79; <i>p</i> = .01); psychiatric-specific interventions such as electroconvulsive therapy (AOR = 21.10; <i>p</i> < .001) and mechanical restraints (AOR = 12.65; <i>p</i> = .004); and acute medical diagnoses (AOR = 8.56; <i>p</i> = .01) were independently associated with developing VTE.ConclusionsPsychiatric inpatients have unique factors that increase the likelihood of developing VTE. Further research with a larger sample size and multicenter design is needed.