title: Obesity as a risk factor in venous thromboembolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whether obesity is an independent risk factor for pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis has not been fully determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the database of the National Hospital Discharge Survey to further investigate the potential risk of obesity in venous thromboembolic disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative risk of deep venous thrombosis, comparing obese patients with non-obese patients, was 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.49-2.51). The relative risk of pulmonary embolism was 2.21 (95% CI = 2.20-2.23). Obese females had a greater relative risk for deep venous thrombosis than obese males, 2.75 (95% CI = 2.74-2.76) versus 2.02 (95% CI = 2.01-2.04). Obesity had the greatest impact on both men and women aged less than 40 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that obesity is a risk factor for venous thromboembolic disease in men as well as women.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI 48341, USA. steinp@trinity-health.org
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Afzal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beemath
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*