Prior myocardial infarction and presence of upper gastrointestinal conditions among patients with venous thromboembolism: prevalence, associated comorbidities and burden.
OBJECTIVE
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a serious, life-threatening condition that often complicates treatment of individuals who are already ill and increases in risk with age. The comorbidity burden of VTE can complicate treatment; therefore, treatment should be influenced by the presence of comorbidities (Kearon 2012). The prevalence of common conditions in the VTE population is, therefore, an important subject of research. Prevalence of two common comorbid burdens, prior myocardial infarction (MI) and upper gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, was studied among survey respondents who reported DVT or PE.


METHODS
Responses to the 2010 wave of the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), a self-administered, internet-based questionnaire from a nationwide, demographically representative sample of adults, were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the 814 participants reporting a history of VTE, 9·7% (n = 60) of the DVT subpopulation and 13·2% (n = 39) of the PE subpopulation also reported prior MI. In respondents with prior MI, cardiovascular, urological, and pain comorbidities were each reported as additional comorbidities by at least two thirds of respondents in both the PE and DVT subpopulations, with cardiovascular and urological conditions reported significantly (P < 0·05) more often than among respondents with no prior MI. Among the respondents reporting VTE, 48·9% (n = 302) of the subpopulation reporting DVT and 52·2% (n = 154) of those reporting PE also reported upper GI comorbidities. Cardiovascular and pain conditions in the respondents reporting upper GI comorbidities were each reported by more than three quarters of VTE patients in both the DVT and PE subpopulations and were significantly more common (P < 0·05) than among their counterparts without upper GI comorbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the NHWS indicate that VTE patients who have either of two common comorbid burdens, prior MI and concomitant upper GI conditions, also showed high levels of additional, concurrent comorbidities and generally poor health status. Clinicians must be aware of the total comorbidity profile of their patients who have experienced VTE in order to best manage them and prescribe appropriate therapy.
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Raritan, NJ, USA.
J
J
LaMori
H J
HJ
Gross
M
M
DiBonaventura
B K
BK
Bookhart
J
J
Schein
D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology*
comorbidity; gastrointestinal disease; health surveys; myocardial infarction; venous thromboembolism