TITLE:
Functional Capacity of Patients with Venous Thromboembolic Disease Six to Twelve Months after Treatment
AUTHORS:
Hamadou Ba, Chris-Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio, Alexis Noé S. Guiakam, Kemnang Yemele Honore, Danwe Dieudonné, Guy S. Wafeu
KEYWORDS:
Functional Capacity, Venous Thromboembolism, Six-Minute Walk Test, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is among the leading causes of
hospital-related disability-adjusted life years lost. We aimed to determine the
prevalence and determinants of functional capacity impairment six to twelve
months after an acute VTE event. Methods: This was a cross-sectional
study conducted between January and April 2021 in two referral hospitals of
Yaoundé, including consenting adult patients admitted to these
hospitals six to twelve months ago for VTE. We excluded dead patients
and those with any comorbidity or symptoms limiting physical activity. The
functional outcome was assessed with the six-minute walk test. Functional
capacity impairment was defined as walking distance lower than the expected
value. Results: We included 27 cases in this study with a mean age of 53.2
± 14.4 years. The prevalence of functional capacity impairment was 29.6% (95%
CI: 14.8 - 48.1). Factors associated with poor functional outcome were obesity (OR:
59.5; 95% CI: 4.6 - 767.2; p - 207.4;
p = 0.017), massive PE (OR: 30; 95% CI: 2.5 - 354; p = 0.004),
and poor adherence to treatment (OR: 30.3; 95% CI: 2.5 - 333.3;
p = 0.004). Conclusion: Functional capacity impairment is common in
the medium-term after VTE and factors associated with this poor outcome are
obesity, the severity of the VTE, and poor adherence to treatment.