Venous and arterial thrombosis: a major global health concern

   From public health scares about the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on long-distance flights to high rates of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients recovering from major surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-publicised, serious health issue.1, 2

Patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery for total hip or total knee replacement or surgery for fracture of the hip are at particularly high risk of DVT. Insufficient prophylaxis remains a problem, despite ample evidence that primary preventive therapy effectively reduces the risk of DVT, PE, and fatal PE.3, 57

Thrombosis complications also play a major role in cardiovascular disease. Blood clots in coronary arteries cause acute coronary syndrome, and blood clots that form in the heart are the major cause of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.4, 5