OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in acutely ill surgical and medical patients in selected acute care centres in the Arabian Gulf States, and to determine the proportion of at-risk patients who received effective prophylaxis in accordance with 2004 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight hospitals from 3 countries (Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) contributed to the global ENDORSE (Epidemiological International Day for the Evaluation of Patients at Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in the Acute Hospital Care Setting) study. Medical records were reviewed for all the in-patients aged > / = 40 years admitted to medical wards, and in patients aged > / = 18 admitted to surgical wards. The VTE risk and recommended prophylaxis were assessed according to the 2004 ACCP guidelines.

RESULTS: Of 1,291 evaluable patients, 801 were considered at risk of VTE; 391 (48.8%) surgical patients and 410 (51.2%) medical patients. Of the 801 patients, 322 (40.2%) received ACCP-recommended VTE prophylaxis; 159 (40.7%) of surgical patients and 163 (39.8%) of medical patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that VTE prophylaxis was underutilized in high-risk hospitalized patients. We recommend that active measures should be implemented in acute care centres in these Arabian Gulf countries to ensure identification of patients at risk of VTE and institute the appropriate prophylaxis.