Abstract
There is a lack of information on clinical risk factors for venous thromboembolism
(VTE) development following prolonged traveling. Clinical characteristics and additional
risk factors for VTE in travelers were analyzed in RIETE, an ongoing registry of patients
with symptomatic, confirmed acute VTE. Of 26,172 patients enrolled in RIETE as of
May 2009, 2% developed VTE in association with recent traveling. Travelers were ten
years younger, had significantly more previous VTE events (20% vs. 16%; OR: 1.4; 95%CI:
1.1-1.7) and their body mass index (BMI) was 28.4±5.1 vs. 27.7±5.2 in other patients from the registry (P=0.004). 115 (20%) of recent travelers had previous VTE compared to 16% among others
patients (OR: 1.4; 95%CI: 1.1-1.7). Recent travelers used hormones significantly more
frequently (8.7% vs. 3.7%; OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8-3.3) and more often had a positive
thrombophilia test (16% vs. 8.7%; OR: 2; 95%CI: 1.6-2.6). Travelers used LMWH prophylaxis
significantly less frequently than other patients in the registry (2.4% vs. 13%; OR
0.2; 95%CI: 0.1-0.3). There were differences in VTE risk in professional drivers compared
to passengers. The current study demonstrates four risk factors for VTE development
after long traveling: high BMI, previous VTE, hormone use and thrombophilia. Studies
of prophylactic antithrombotic therapy in high risk travelers are warranted.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Thrombosis ResearchAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Travel thrombosis: Pathomechanisms and clinical aspects.Pathophysiology. Dec 2008; 15: 243-252
- Travel-related venous thrombosis: Results from a large population-based control study (MEGA study).PLoS Med. 2006; 3: e307
Chandra D, Parisini E, Mozaffarian D. Travel and risk for venous thromboembolism. Ann Intern Med 2009; 151: Electronic publication.
- Severe pulmonary embolism associated with air travel.N Engl J Med. 2001; 345: 779-783
- Incidence of air travel-related pulmonary embolism at the Madrid-Barajas airport.Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163: 2766-2770
- An epidemiologic study of risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in medical outpatients: The Sirius study.Arch Intern Med. 2000; 160: 3415-3420
- Risk of venous thromboembolism after air travel: Interaction with thrombophilia and oral contraceptives.Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163: 2771-2774
- Clinical outcome of patients with venous thromboembolism and renal insufficiency. Findings from RIETE Registry.Thromb Haemost. 2007; 98 (RIETE Investigators): 771-776
- Venous thrombo-embolism during pregnancy or postpartum. Findings from the RIETE Registry.Thromb Haemost. 2007; 97 (RIETE Investigators): 186-190
- Predictive factors for fatal pulmonary embolism in 15,520 patients with venous thromboembolism. Findings from the RIETE Registry.Circulation. 2008; 117 (RIETE Investigators): 1711-1716
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in two cohorts: The longitudinal investigation of thromboembolism etiology.Am J Med. 2004; 117: 19-25
- Cardiovascular risk factors and venous thromboembolism incidence: The longitudinal investigation of thromboembolism etiology.Arch Intern Med. 2002; 162: 1182-1189
- Obesity as a risk factor in venous thromboembolism.Am J Med. 2005; 118: 978-980
- The effect of flight-related behavior on the risk of venous thrombosis after air travel.Br J Hematol. 2009; 144: 425-429
- Obesity: Risk of venous thrombosis and the interaction with coagulation factor levels and oral contraceptive use.Thromb Haemost. 2003; 89: 493-498
- Estrogen plus progestin and risk of venous thrombosis.JAMA. 2004; 292: 1573-1580
- Increasing trends in waist circumference and abdominal obesity among U.S. adults.Obesity. 2007; 15 ([Silver Spring]): 216-224
- Epidemiology and risk factors for venous thrombosis.Semin Hematol. 2007; 44: 62-69
- Venous thrombosis after long-haul flights.Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163: 2759-2764
- Venous thromboembolism in women using hormonal contraceptives. Findings from the RIETE Registry.Thromb Haemost. 2009; 101 (for the RIETE Investigators): 478-482
- Predictors of recurrence after deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: A population-based cohort study.Arch Intern Med. 2000; 160: 761-768
- Air travel and venous thromboembolism: A systematic review.J Gen Intern Med. 2007; 22: 107-114
- Prevention of venous thromboembolism.Semin Thromb Hemost. 2006; 32: 755-766
Cui R, Tanigawa T, Nakano H, Sakurai S, Yamagishi K, Ohira T, Iso H. Associations between weight change since 20 years of age and sleep-disordered breathing among male truck drivers. Int J Obes Lond 2009; Electronic publication Sep 2009 22.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 13, 2010
Accepted:
June 18,
2010
Received in revised form:
May 23,
2010
Received:
February 25,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
