{
  "abstract": "Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, epidemiological data and access to diagnostics and management of VTE remain limited in sub-Saharan Africa. This multicentre initiative aimed at strengthening capacity, enhancing management and establishing epidemiological data on VTE—focusing on DVT—in Ghana.Methods The DVT network was established in nine hospitals across Ghana from 2018 to 2022. The initiative involved capacity building, technical infrastructure, including a train-the-trainers approach, mentorship, awareness workshops and campaigns. Epidemiological data were collected from patients with suspected DVT in two study phases.Results Among 1422 patients with suspected DVT, diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound in 44% (624/1422). Before the onset of symptoms suggestive of DVT, 25% of inpatients with active cancer (37/146) and 27% of inpatients with a history of DVT (8/30) were receiving anticoagulation. Following VTE confirmation, 96% (370/384) of patients who were assessed in the second phase of the project received anticoagulation. The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate evaluated in the second phase was found to be significantly higher among inpatients with confirmed VTE than in patients without (19%, 57/295 vs 4%, 15/415, p<0.001). Fifty-nine (19%) patients with DVT received a 3-month follow-up; 34% (20/59) experienced complete resolution; at 6 months, complete resolution increased to 71% (32/45).Conclusion The high rate of confirmed DVT in suspected cases in Ghana highlights the need for targeted screening. Standardised capacity-building initiatives can be implemented across multiple hospitals, enhancing access to high-quality healthcare. While establishing specialised ‘DVT centres’ provides qualified management for referred patients, underdiagnosis of DVT and limited prophylaxis remain major challenges, underscoring the need to enhance nationwide thromboprophylaxis and healthcare access for patients with suspected DVT.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany",
        "I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Lena Huebl"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Isaac Kofi Owusu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Collins Kokuro"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Yaw Adu-Boakye"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Bernard C. Nkum"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Isaac Nana Ogyefo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Emmanuel Acheamfour-Akowuah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Musah Labaran"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Samuel Frimpong Odoom"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Agogo, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Richard King Nyamekye"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Kumasi South Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Ohemeng Minkah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bono Regional Hospital, Sunyani, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Henry Kofi Andoh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Alfred Doku"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Francis Agyekum"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Seth Yao Nani"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Allen Steele-Dadzie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Radiology, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana",
        "Department of Radiology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Klenam Dzefi-Tettey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Yaw Asante Awuku"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Ama Gyadua Boadu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Adam Atiku"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Joan Aguyire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Takoradi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Jameela Afriyie Khalid"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"
      ],
      "name": "Houtan Heidari"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Emergency and Acute Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Timur Özkan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsten Eberhardt"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany",
        "I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Michael Ramharter"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Oncology and Haematology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Christina Rolling"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany",
        "I. Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine 4 - Pneumology and Infectious Diseases, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria",
        "Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria"
      ],
      "name": "Thierry Rolling"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany",
        "I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Christof D Vinnemeier"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany",
        "I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany",
        "Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland"
      ],
      "name": "Melina Heinemann"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Establishing a National Deep Vein Thrombosis Network in Ghana: findings from a prospective observational study embedded in a capacity-building initiative",
  "uid": "6f84af8e-68ae-5c17-b35b-e99b088a9b87"
}