Frequency of Asymptomatic Deep Vein Thrombosis in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Introduction: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are always associated with high mortality. Because of the presence of some concomitant risk factors such as immobilization and bronchial superinfection, patients who are admitted for acute exacerbations of COPD are generally considered to be at moderate risk for the development of venous thromboembolism. Thromboembolism is a cause of unexplained dyspnea, exacerbations, and mortality in COPD. This study aims to determine the frequency of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD presented at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Chest Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi. A duplex ultrasound study of both lower limbs was performed by a sonologist to assess asymptomatic DVT in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 59.64 ± 9.711 years. Out of 106 patients, 95 (90%) were male and 11 (10%) were female. Asymptomatic DVT was found in 16 (15%) patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. Male patients exhibited a higher incidence of DVT, with 12 cases versus four in females, a statistically significant finding (p=0.03). Additionally, DVT was significantly more prevalent among patients with restricted mobility, with all 16 cases occurring in this group (p=0.006). Age did not show a statistically significant difference in DVT occurrence between patients above and below 59 years.

Conclusions: Deep venous thrombosis is a common occurrence in COPD exacerbations. It is a risk factor for pulmonary embolism that carries a high mortality. All patients with COPD exacerbations may need to be assessed for thromboembolic events. COPD morbidity and mortality are continually rising despite efforts to recognize new phenotypes and treatments. The cause may be the association of unrecognized and untreated thromboembolism. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with anticoagulants in COPD patients may lead to a better prognosis.