Obesity as a risk factor in venous thromboembolism

PURPOSE: Whether obesity is an independent risk factor for pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis has not been fully determined. METHODS: We used the database of the National Hospital Discharge Survey to further investigate the potential risk of obesity in venous thromboembolic disease. RESULTS: The relative risk of deep venous thrombosis, comparing obese patients with non-obese patients, was 2.50 (95% confidence interval CI] = 2.49-2.51). The relative risk of pulmonary embolism was 2.21 (95% CI = 2.20-2.23). Obese females had a greater relative risk for deep venous thrombosis than obese males, 2.75 (95% CI = 2.74-2.76) versus 2.02 (95% CI = 2.01-2.04). Obesity had the greatest impact on both men and women aged less than 40 years. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that obesity is a risk factor for venous thromboembolic disease in men as well as women.