Factors associated with lower limb deep vein thrombosis in cancer of the breast patients on chemotherapy at a Sub-Saharan African cancer centre

Abstract

Background: Cancer and its treatments are well recognized risk factors for venous thromboembolism. Venous thromboembolism in breast cancer is common, and this is related to its high prevalence among women worldwide. Studies of thromboembolic events in a background of cancer treatment in various setting provide information relevant for forestalling some of the complications. The study was set out to determine the factors associated with lower limb deep vein thrombosis in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at a tertiary cancer treatment center in Uganda.
Methods: this was a descriptive and cross-sectional study
Results: Of the 98 breast patients recruited 95 (97%) were female and 3(3%) males. The mean age was 48 years while 4(67%) were above 60 years. Most, 86 (88%) had a performance status of 0, and with body mass index of 20.3. Deep vein thrombosis was demonstrated in 6 (6.1%) breast cancer cases evaluated. These 6 had in addition other comorbidities; 3 (50%) diabetes mellitus, 3 (50%) hypertension, 4(67%) had edema of the lower limbs, while 2(33%) had lower limb discoloration.
Conclusion: Deep vein thrombosis in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy affected 6% of the patents and the associated factors were age of more than 60 years, and edema of the lower limbs. Recommendation: there is need to look for deep vein thrombosis when patients have the lower limb edema. Furthermore, increased index of suspicion when more cases of breast cancer on chemotherapy are studied.