Among natural disasters, earthquake is associated with heavy fatalities and financial damages, causing considerable mortality. The complications resulting from getting trapped in rubble, secondary traumas, obligation to reside in temporary shelters, along with other factors such as limited mobility, stress, and dehydration, predispose earthquake survivors to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The aim of the present study is to investigate the rate of DVT after an earthquake using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To perform the present study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used. The protocol of this review study has been registered in the International Perspective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) with the code of CRD42021290375. Credible data resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, SID, and Embase were used for extracting relevant studies. Random effect model was used to perform the meta-analysis. I2 was ritualized to investigate heterogeneity across the studies. Publication bias of studies was evaluated using the Begg test.

In this study, 267 primary studies were identified and extracted. After removing the duplicate ones and the screening, eventually 12 final studies were chosen for the meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis results, the total rate of DVT was 9.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.32-10.81; I2 = 97.9%; P = 0<0.001). Analysis of DVT in the subgroups of the general population and patient survivors were 11.43% (95% CI: 9.06-13.79; I2 = 98%; P = 0<0.001) and 2.51% (95% CI: 0.04-4.63; I2 = 77.7%; P = 0.001). Also, based on the Begg test, the publication bias in the chosen studies was not considerable.

DVT rate in earthquake survivors is higher compared with other disasters, and over time it finds a growing trend. After earthquake, the focus of rescue and health-care teams is on individuals with observable injuries and damages. Because DVT is first asymptomatic but has fatal consequences, including pulmonary embolism and sudden death, it should be incorporated in health’s status assessment of earthquake-stricken people as well as screening and diagnostic programs of health-care providers.

To date, there is limited evidence for health care providers regarding the determinants of early assessment of poor outcomes of adult in-patients due to earthquakes. This study aimed to explore factors related to early assessment of adult earthquake trauma patients (AETPs).

The data on 29,933 AETPs in the West China Earthquake Patients Database (WCEPD) were analyzed retrospectively. Then, 37 simple variables that could be obtained rapidly upon arrival at the hospital were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were performed. A nomogram was then constructed.

Nine independent mortality-related factors that contributed to AETP in-patient mortality were identified. The variables included age (OR:1.035; 95%CI, 1.027-1.044), respiratory rate ([RR]; OR:1.091; 95%CI, 1.050-1.133), pulse rate ([PR]; OR:1.028; 95%CI, 1.020-1.036), diastolic blood pressure ([DBP]; OR:0.96; 95%CI, 0.950-0.970), Glasgow Coma Scale ([GCS]; OR:0.666; 95%CI, 0.643-0.691), crush injury (OR:3.707; 95%CI, 2.166-6.115), coronary heart disease ([CHD]; OR:4.025; 95%CI, 1.869-7.859), malignant tumor (OR:4.915; 95%CI, 2.850-8.098), and chronic kidney disease ([CKD]; OR:5.735; 95%CI, 3.209-10.019).

The nine mortality-related factors for ATEPs, including age, RR, PR, DBP, GCS, crush injury, CHD, malignant tumor, and CKD, could be quickly obtained on hospital arrival and should be the focal point of future earthquake response strategies for AETPs. Based on these factors, a nomogram was constructed to screen for AETPs with a higher risk of in-patient mortality.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among evacuees in Minamiaso, a village which was temporarily isolated after the earthquakes, from the acute to recovery phase after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes (GLIDE no: EQ-2016-000033-JPN).

This prospective study, which was approved by Fukui University Medical Research Ethics Committee (approval no. 20160024 and 20160089), enrolled 181 evacuees (73.9 ± 11.6 y) who participated in a series of 3 DVT screenings using portable ultrasound machines conducted over 19 mo. All participants completed a questionnaire before the screenings, and none of the participants attended all 3 screenings. Data analysis was performed using EZR version 1.41.

The DVT prevalence was 14.3% (79.4 ± 8.2 y) at first screening of evacuees staying in shelters and 18.5% (71.5 ± 13.1 y) and 12.2% (72.8 ± 10.9 y) in second and third screenings of evacuees staying in temporary housing, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥75 y and alcohol consumption as independent risk factors in the entire cohort and in patients aged ≤74 y, respectively.

A high DVT prevalence over a long time period of 19 mo was observed where survivors were temporarily isolated after the disaster.

Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) characterized by chronic pain, swelling, and heaviness, and may result in ulceration. Elastic compression stockings (ECS) worn daily after DVT have been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of PTS. The aim of our study was to investigate practices and perceptions of physicians regarding adjunct therapies to anticoagulation in patients diagnosed with lower extremity DVT.

A national online survey was conducted of Canadian emergency medicine staff physicians and residents (n=471) to investigate their attitudes toward the prescription of ECS post-diagnosis of DVT. A paper survey of patients in a thrombosis clinic (n=58) was also administered to better understand the patient experiences with ECS.

The majority of staff physician (62%) and resident (69%) respondents were unsure of whether ECS were effective in preventing PTS and managing venous symptoms. Only 6% of staff physicians and 7% of residents routinely prescribed ECS for above-knee DVTs. More than 78% of respondents were unsure about the optimal timing of initiation of ECS and duration of therapy. Although all patients noted symptomatic relief with ECS, only 50% were prescribed stockings by an emergency or family doctor, and 69% of those patients wore the stockings on a daily basis. Staff physicians most frequently identified poor fit as the reason for lack of patient compliance, whereas patients most frequently cited cost.

Our findings suggest that there is variability in practice among Canadian emergency medicine physicians and trainees and a need for widespread education regarding the latest evidence of the benefit of ECS after DVT.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction outcomes of our pharmacist-managed, emergency department (ED)–based outpatient treatment program for venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease.

We conducted a prospective cohort study of all patients who were enrolled in the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) outpatient VTE treatment program over a 7-year period (1999–2006). Efficacy outcomes include recurrent VTE events at 3 and 6 months following discharge from the program. Safety evaluation included major and minor bleeding complications and the development of thrombocytopenia during the acute phase of therapy. Patient satisfaction was assessed using an 18-question patient satisfaction survey, which was mailed to all patients following discharge from the program.

Overall, 305 patients were included in the study. Of the 260 evaluable patients, 2 patients (0.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2–2.7) experienced a recurrent VTE at 3 months and 5 patients (1.9%, 95% CI 0.8–4.4) had a recurrence at 6 months. One patient (0.3%, 95% CI 0.1–1.8) experienced a major bleeding complication. Seven patients (2.3%, 95% CI 1.1–4.7) experienced a minor bleeding complication and no patient developed thrombocytopenia. Overall, 96.1% were comfortable having their condition treated as an outpatient and 85.7% felt it was more convenient to return to hospital daily for medications and assessment than to be admitted to hospital. Finally, 96.9% of respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with the treatment they received in the outpatient program, and 96.1% would enroll again if future treatment was indicated.

Our pharmacist-managed, ED-based outpatient treatment program for VTE disease is safe, effective and achieves a high level of patient satisfaction.