title: The epidemiology of venous thromboembolism.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is categorized by the U.S. Surgeon General as a major public health problem. VTE is relatively common and associated with reduced survival and substantial health-care costs, and recurs frequently. VTE is a complex (multifactorial) disease, involving interactions between acquired or inherited predispositions to thrombosis and VTE risk factors, including increasing patient age and obesity, hospitalization for surgery or acute illness, nursing-home confinement, active cancer, trauma or fracture, immobility or leg paresis, superficial vein thrombosis, and, in women, pregnancy and puerperium, oral contraception, and hormone therapy. Although independent VTE risk factors and predictors of VTE recurrence have been identified, and effective primary and secondary prophylaxis is available, the occurrence of VTE seems to be relatively constant, or even increasing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases (JAH), Mayo Clinic, Hematology Research-Stabile 660, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. heit.john@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Heit
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology (FAS), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine (RHW), University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; Epidemiology; Pulmonary embolism; Thrombophlebitis; Venous thromboembolism