Risk factors for venous thromboembolism^{w1 w2}

Thrombophilias

• Factor V Leiden mutation

• Prothrombin gene mutation

• Protein S deficiency

• Protein C deficiency

• Antithrombin III deficiency

• Antiphospholipid antibodies

• Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism

• Homocysteinaemia

Concurrent conditions

• Cancer

• Chronic heart failure

• Obesity

• Venous insufficiency

• Leg fracture

• Recent trauma or surgery

• Infection

• Pregnancy

Personal risk factors

• Previous venous thromboembolism

• Family history of venous thromboembolism

• Increasing age

• Immobilisation

• Dehydration

• Smoking

Drugs

• Alcohol and other sedatives

• Oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy

w1 Samama MM. An epidemiologic study of risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in medical outpatients: the Sirius study. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:3415-20.

w2 Parsi KA, McGrath MA, Lord RS. Traveller’s venous thrombolism: a review of world literature, a survey of world airlines and an Australian perspective. Aust NZ J Phlebol 2001;5:32-53.