The effects of race/ethnicity and sex on the risk of venous thromboembolism.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, studies on large diverse populations have described important ethnic/racial differences in venous thromboembolism incidence, and sex has been reported as an important predictor of recurrence. We review the influence of race/ethnicity and sex on venous thromboembolism, concentrating on articles from 2005 to 2007.


RESULTS
Most studies found that women have a 40-400% lower risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism than men. Studies of ethnicity/race on risk provide strong evidence that African-American patients are the highest risk group for first-time venous thromboembolism, while Hispanic patients' risk is about half that of Caucasians. African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher risk of recurrence than Caucasians, but sex and the type of index venous thromboembolism event seem to play a role in this risk. Asian/Pacific Islanders have a markedly lower risk of first-time and cancer-associated venous thromboembolism. There is little difference in incidence in African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians diagnosed with cancer. Sex does not seem to be associated with risk in cancer patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex and race/ethnicity are important factors in the risk of first-time and recurrent venous thromboembolism and need to be included as risk assessment and diagnostic prediction tools are developed or updated.
Keenan
Craig R
CR
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.
White
Richard H
RH
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology