title: A population-based cohort study on deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among schizophrenia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were found in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, we hypothesize that the incidences of VTE and PE are relatively higher among schizophrenia patients in comparison with the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this population-based cohort study, claims data from 1996 to 2011 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We compared the incidence of DVT and PE between schizophrenia and non-schizophrenia cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the risk of DVT and PE, according to sex, age, and comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the non-schizophrenia cohort, the schizophrenia cohort exhibited a 2.02-fold higher adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing DVT, and a 1.99-fold higher adjusted HR for developing PE. Furthermore, schizophrenia patients using first-generation or second-generation antipsychotics exhibited a higher adjusted HR for both DVT and PE development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with the general population, the risk of DVT and PE is relatively higher among schizophrenia patients. Early diagnosis and intervention by physicians could mitigate complications and reduce mortality resulting from VTE.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: d10040@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Chia-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; National Health Insurance Research Database; Pulmonary embolism; Schizophrenia