Lower Activity and Function Scores Are Associated with a Higher Risk of Preoperative Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between patients’ activity and function levels and the incidence of preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prior to total hip arthroplasty (THA). We retrospectively reviewed 500 patients admitted for primary or revision THA from July 2014 to October 2018. The diagnosis of DVT was confirmed using Doppler ultrasonography 1 month before THA. The patients’ activity and hip function were evaluated using several clinical scores: the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score, and visual analog scale (VAS) score. Those scores and the medical history were examined for correlations with preoperative DVT using univariate and multivariate models. Univariate regression analysis showed that older age, current steroid use, anticoagulant use, a history of DVT, collagen disease, a lower UCLA activity score, and a lower OHS were associated with an elevated risk of preoperative DVT. The multivariate analyses showed that a higher UCLA activity score (odds ratio (OR): 0.0049–0.012) and higher OHS (OR: 0.0012–0.0088) were associated with a lower risk of preoperative DVT in each model. Age (OR: 1.07 in both models), current steroid use (OR: 9.32–10.45), and a history of DVT (OR: 27.15–74.98) were associated with a higher risk of preoperative DVT in both models. Older age, current steroid use, a history of DVT, a lower UCLA activity score, and a lower OHS were risk factors for preoperative DVT before THA, even when controlling for potential confounders. Patients exhibiting low activity and low function levels were more likely to have DVT, even before surgery.