IMAJ | volume 24
Journal 12, December 2022
pages: 847-850
1 Department of Internal Medicine A, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
3 Department of Intensive Care Unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel
4 Department of Internal Medicine B, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah, Israel
5 Department of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel
6 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Summary
Background:
Data regarding risk factors for superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) cases presenting to a hospital is limited.
Objectives:
To investigate and stratify clinical and laboratory risk factors for STP
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective case control study comparing patients presenting to the emergency department with STP and age- and gender-matched controls. We collected data on multiple risk factors and five blood indices.
Results:
The study comprised 151 patients and matched controls. Patients with STP were more likely to have varicose veins (43.7% vs. 5.3%,
P < 0.001), recent immobilization (14.6% vs. 1.3%,
P < 0.001), obesity (36.4% vs. 18.5%,
P = 0.001), a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) or STP (27.2% vs. 0.7%,
P < 0.001), and inherited thrombophilia (9.3% vs. 1.3%,
P = 0.002). Following multivariate analysis, all five risk factors remained significant, with a history of VTE or STP associated with the largest risk (odds ratio [OR] 35.7), followed by immobilization (OR 22.3), varicose veins (OR 12.1), inherited thrombophilia (OR 6.1), and obesity (OR 2.7). Mean platelet volume was higher (8.5 vs 7.9 fl,
P = 0.003) in STP cases.
Conclusions:
A history of VTE or STP, immobilization, varicose veins, inherited thrombophilia, and obesity serve as independent clinical risk factors for STP presenting to hospital.