title: Effects of race and ethnicity on the incidence of venous thromboembolism.
abstract: Although there is strong evidence that the prevalence of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) varies significantly among different ethnic/racial groups, the genetic, physiologic and/or clinical basis for these differences remain largely undefined. African-American patients have a significantly higher rate of incident VTE, particularly following exposure to a provoking risk factor such as surgery, medical illness, trauma, etc. In addition, African-Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE) than deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) compared to Caucasian and other racial groups. On the other extreme, Asians/Pacific Islanders have a 70% lower prevalence of VTE and this is true for both idiopathic VTE and provoked, or 'secondary', VTE. Hispanics have a significantly lower prevalence of VTE compared to Caucasians, but higher than Asians/Pacific Islanders. The incidence of recurrent VTE varies depending on gender, type of thromboembolic event and race. Further research is needed in order to determine the fundamental differences between racial/ethnic groups that explain the observed differences in the prevalence of VTE. Race/ethnicity should be considered an important factor in the risk-stratification of patients with suspected VTE or patients at some risk for developing VTE.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, Sacramento, USA. rhwhite@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Keenan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents