DVT prevalence and risk factors

Prevalence of venous thromboembolism

  • Common disorder, associated with high morbidity and mortality
  • VTE occurs at an annual incidence of 1-2 in 1000 adults
  • Clinical manifestations are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its major complication pulmonary embolism (PE)
  • 2/3 of episodes manifest as DVT and 1/3 as PE with or without DVT
  • Risk for VTE increase sharply after age 45
  • Rates are slightly higher in men than in women
  • Different incidences among ethnic groups (higher rates in Caucasians than in Asians or Hispanics)
  • Major outcomes: death, recurrence, post-thrombotic syndrome and major bleeding due to anticoagulation
  • Death occurs within one month of an episode in about 6% of those with DVT and 10% of those with PE

Aquired risk factors

  • Pregnancy
  • Surgery
  • Lack of exercise
  • Low water consumption; dehydration cure
  • Age (> 60 years)
  • Varices
  • Overweight
  • Smoking
  • Intake of contraceptives
  • Hormone intake during menopause
  • Heart insufficiency
  • Acute infection (pulmonary infection, COVID-19 etc.)
  • Chronic inflammatory diseases as rheumatism
  • Tumors
  • Bone fractures
  • Thrombotic events in own anamnesis