TITLE:
Factors Associated with Venous Thromboembolic Disease in a Group of Sub-Saharan Afrcan Population Followed-Up for Cervical Cancer in an Urban Setting
AUTHORS:
Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio, Bâ Hamadou, Etienne Atenguena Okobalemba, Ruth Metchiem Oumbe, Cliford Ebong, Jessica Yondo, Juliette Valerie Ndobo, Esther Meka
KEYWORDS:
Cervical Cancer, Venous Thromboembolic Diseases, Yaoundé
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a common complication of cancer which significantly increases its morbidity and mortality rates. Very few studies in our context have focused on this complication in cervical cancer. Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of VTE as well as associated factors in patients followed up for cervical cancer in 3 hospitals in Yaoundé. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective cross-sectional study from 2020-2024 carried out at the Yaoundé General, Central and Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospitals. The patients included were those with a confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer who were being followed up at one of the 3 study sites. Data, including sociodemographic, clinical, and risk factors for VTE, and information about VTE were collected from medical records from January 1 to August 31, 2024. Additional information was obtained by phone call after obtaining informed consent from the participants. The data analysis was done using the R software. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the associations between the factors studied. The significance threshold was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Logistic regression was done to eliminate confounding factors. Results: We included 200 patients. The average age of our population was 53.8 ± 12 years, with extremes of 25 and 94 years. The prevalence of VTE was 13.5% (27/200). Factors significantly associated with the occurrence of VTE were age greater than 40 years (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 1.55, 9.33; P = 0.003), obesity (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.58; P = 0.010), and advanced cancer stage (OR=9.31; 95% CI= 1.21, 88.0; P = 0.039). Conclusion: This study shows that VTE is highly prevalent in patients with cervical cancer in our population, mostly in women over 40 years, obese and at advanced stages of cancer.