Portal vein thrombosis and associated factors among patients admitted to Tibebe Ghion hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study, 2021-2024.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a Liver vascular disease characterized by the development of a blood clot inside the portal vein's main branches or trunk. There are limited studies on PVT and associated factors in Africa, with no studies from Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of portal vein thrombosis and associated factors among patients at the TGSH medical ward in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024.

Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 422 patient charts selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured tools, entered into EpiData v4.6, and analyzed using SPSS v25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PVT, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Bahir Dar University.

Result: A total of 407 study subjects were included, and 64 (15.7%) had portal vein thrombosis. Having a diagnosis of chronic liver disease(CLD), the AOR is 2.139 (95% CI: 1.017-4.499) with a p-value of 0.045, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an AOR of 3.912 (95% CI: 1.609-9.512) and a significant p-value of 0 003, Platelet count > 450 K, with an AOR of 4.574 (95% CI: 1.989-10.519) and a p-value of 0.001, were significantly associated with portal vein thrombosis.

Conclusion and recommendations: This study found a notably high prevalence of portal vein thrombosis (15.7%) among hospitalized patients, while chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and elevated platelets significantly increasing risk. These findings underscore the need for heightened clinical vigilance and targeted screening in high-risk populations. Future research should focus on elucidating underlying causal mechanisms, including potential thrombophilic conditions, and should incorporate more diverse and representative patient cohorts to inform comprehensive preventive and therapeutic strategies.