title: Annual diagnosis rate of superficial vein thrombosis of the lower limbs: the STEPH community-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) in the general adult population remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the annual diagnosis rate of symptomatic, objectively confirmed lower limb SVT, associated or not with concomitant deep vein thrombosis and/or symptomatic pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted, from November 14, 2011, to November 13, 2012, a multicenter, community-based study in the Saint-Etienne urban area, France, representing a population of 265 687 adult residents (according to the 2009 census). All 248 general practitioners located within the area were asked to refer any patient with clinically suspected lower limb acute SVT to a vascular physician for systematic compression ultrasonography. All 28 vascular physicians located within the area participated in the study. The annual diagnosis rate, with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), was calculated as the number of patients with symptomatic, objectively confirmed SVT divided by the number of person-years at risk defined by population data of the area. All venous thromboembolic events were validated by an independent central adjudication committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 171 patients with symptomatic, confirmed SVT were reported. The annual diagnosis rate was 0.64& (95% CI, 0.55%-0.74&), was higher in women, and increased with advancing age regardless of gender [corrected]. Concomitant deep vein thrombosis (20 proximal) was observed in 42 patients (24.6% [95% CI, 18.3%-31.7%]), and concomitant symptomatic pulmonary embolism was observed in eight patients (4.7% [95% CI, 2.0%-9.0%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first community-based study showed that symptomatic SVT with confirmed diagnosis is a relatively common disease frequently associated with thromboembolic events in the deep venous system.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, CIE3, Saint-Etienne, France; Département de Médecine Générale, Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France; EA3065, Université Jean Monnet, PRES de Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frappé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buchmuller-Cordier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonithon-Kopp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Couzan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lafond
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leizorovicz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merah
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Presles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preynat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tardy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Décousus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: epidemiology; population; saphenous vein; thrombosis; venous thromboembolism