title: Prolonged seated immobility at work is a common risk factor for venous thromboembolism leading to hospital admission.
abstract: The role of seated immobility at work in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain. In this case series, 61 patients aged <65 years with a recent admission for deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain information regarding risk factors. Prolonged seated immobility at work in the 4 weeks before the VTE event was defined as being seated at least 8 h in a 24-h period and at least 3 h at a time without getting up, at least 10 h in a 24-h period and at least 2 h at a time without getting up or at least 12 h in a 24-h period and at least 1 h at a time without getting up. The most commonly identified risk factors were family history of VTE (21 of 61, 34%), seated immobility at work (21 of 61, 34%) and a thrombophilic state (19 of 61, 31%). We conclude that prolonged seated immobility at work may represent a common and important risk factor for VTE.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aldington
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wijesinghe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*