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(Circulation. 2003;107:I-3.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Preface

Current Monograph in Four Parts

Clive Kearon, M.B., M.R.C.P.I., F.R.C.P.C., PhD, Guest Editor

Key Words: embolism • epidemiology • risk factors • thrombosis • veins

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

The first issue of this series of supplements on venous thromboembolic disease is devoted to the epidemiology, risk factors, and natural history of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The monograph consists of four chapters. Epidemiology of VTE is described by Dr. Richard White of the University of California, Davis. He notes that the average population incidence of VTE is 1 per 1000 persons per year in North America but that this risk is greatly influenced by age and ethnicity. VTE is >100 times more common in the elderly than it is in children and, generally, the incidence doubles with each decade of age. Asians have a risk of VTE of about one fifth that of Caucasians and African-Americans. There is no convincing difference in the risk of VTE between men and women.

Risk factors for VTE are described by Drs. Fredrick Anderson and Fredrick Spencer of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. They note that about one half of VTE episodes are associated with hospital admission, the frequency in surgical and medical patients being similar. The risk of VTE differs markedly among hospitalized patients, and guidance is provided on how to identify those who are at moderate or high risk and should routinely receive prophylaxis. Hereditary and acquired biochemical states are associated with VTE in about one third of episodes; the prevalence and severity of these conditions as risk factors are described. It is noted that VTE risk is determined as much by the number of risk factors present in any . . . [Full Text of this Article]