title: Thrombosis: a major contributor to global disease burden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombosis is the common pathology underlying ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) documented that ischemic heart disease and stroke collectively caused 1 in 4 deaths worldwide. GBD 2010 did not report data for VTE as a cause of death and disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature on the global burden of disease caused by VTE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a systematic review of the literature on the global disease burden because of VTE in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Studies from Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Southern Latin America (Argentina) yielded consistent results with annual incidences ranging from 0.75 to 2.69 per 1000 individuals in the population. The incidence increased to between 2 and 7 per 1000 among those aged ≥70 years. Although the incidence is lower in individuals of Chinese and Korean ethnicity, their disease burden is not low because of population aging. VTE associated with hospitalization was the leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years lost in low- and middle-income countries, and second in high-income countries, responsible for more disability-adjusted life-years lost than nosocomial pneumonia, catheter-related blood stream infections, and adverse drug events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VTE causes a major burden of disease across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. More detailed data on the global burden of VTE should be obtained to inform policy and resource allocation in health systems and to evaluate whether improved use of preventive measures will reduce the burden.
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.). Gary-Raskob@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Raskob
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angchaisuksiri
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hylek
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Konstantinides
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCumber
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wendelboe
authors.affiliation: From the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (G.E.R., M.M., A.W.); Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (P.A.); División Hemostasia, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A.N.B.); Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (H.B.); SA Pathology-Department of Hematology, Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (A.G.); Thrombosis and Thrombophilia Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (B.J.H.); Boston University School of Medicine, MA (E.M.H.); Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom (A.K.); Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (S.V.K.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan (Y.O.); and McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J.I.W.).
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D017281:Cost of Illness; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012923:Social Class; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality
keywords: pulmonary embolism; thrombosis; venous thromboembolism; venous thrombosis