Abstract
Background: Healthcare providers often overlook chronic venous disease because of an underappreciation of the magnitude and impact of the problem. Venous Insufficiency and Deep Vein Thrombosis are two of the most common conditions associated with chronic venous disease. There is a very thin line between the clinical features that can exclude one another, as they both share a similar pathogenesis and affect the venous system.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate and describe the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency at primary healthcare clinics.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed in this quantitative study. The research setting comprised three clinics in the Sedibeng District: Empilisweni, Johan Heyns, and Levai Mbatha Community Health centres. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Johannesburg, with additional permission granted by the National Department of Health and the National Health Laboratory Service. The population comprised patients who received podiatric services at the specified health facilities. The study sample included patients who underwent a D-Dimer test between 01 January 2023 and 31 December 2024.
Results: The total data set comprised 178 files. The dataset was analysed, with 49 patients being male and 129 females. The data were divided into those under 50 and those over 70, with 37 and 70 patients in each category, respectively; the remaining patients fell between these age groups. A total of 116 (65.2%) patients had a positive D-Dimer result, while 62 (34%) had a normal result. Of these 62, 52 (80%) exhibited clinical features of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Data analysis using the Chi-square and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests found statistical significance for Lipodermatosclerosis (p=0.035 and p=0.049), History of ulcers (p=0.051), and Asthma (p=0.037).
Conclusion: The study findings showed that Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Deep Vein Thrombosis can occur independently or concurrently. In some instances, Deep Vein Thrombosis can cause direct and indirect damage that can lead to Chronic Venous Insufficiency. D-Dimer cut-off values need to be reviewed based on the condition being tested, rather than determined on a continuous scale above or below the threshold.