TITLE:
Stratification of the Risk of Venous Thromboembolic Disease in a Cameroonian Group of Patients Diagnosed for Cancer and before Initiating Chemotherapy
AUTHORS:
Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio, Bâ Hamadou, Etienne Atenguena Okobalemba, Ide Flora Fanle Ndimbeu, Andy Tedwin Tchouanlong Tabuguia, Franck Marcien Ngowa Nzali, Loic Tasong, Lesly Beumo, Paul Tchaptchet, Juliette Valerie Ndobo, Pascal Chuisseu, Félicité Kamdem
KEYWORDS:
Venous Thromboembolic Disease, Cancer, Khorana Score, Yaoundé-Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Cancer increases the risk of venous thromboembolic disease. Objective: To assess the level of risk of VTE in a group of Cameroonian cancer patients, before the initiation of chemotherapy, using the Khorana score. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study, with prospective data collection, over 3 months. Including, patients with histopathological evidence of cancer without a history of venous thromboembolic disease, anticoagulant treatment, or chemotherapy. Results: Of the 70 patients retained, 53 were women (75.7%). The average age was 46.54 +/− 14.46 years. The main factors predisposing to venous thromboembolic disease were obesity (18.6%), arterial hypertension (15.7%), history of hospitalization (14.3%), and HIV infection (12.9%). The most common cancers were: gynecological-mammary (42.8%), head and neck (18.6%), and digestive (12.8%). The stage of cancer was metastatic in 47.1% of cases. The most represented histological type was carcinoma in 84.3% of cases. Following risk stratification by Khorana score, 22 (31.4%) patients were at low risk, 41 (58.6%) at intermediate risk and 7 (10%) at high risk. Gastric cancer would increase the risk of occurrence of venous thromboembolic disease (OR = 46.5; 95% CI = 3.899 - 554.583). Conclusion: At the pre-chemotherapy stage, most Cameroonian cancer patients present an intermediate or high risk of venous thromboembolic disease, without prior thromboprophylaxis. Gastric cancer would be the factor associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolic disease.