Abstract
Objective
This review was conducted to show the full range of incidence estimates published
for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women depending on study design and to suggest
a more reliable estimate for women of reproductive age.
Methods
A literature search was performed to identify studies on the incidence of VTE in women.
Incidence rates were compiled from studies with different methodologies and varying
methodological quality. Algorithms were used to estimate VTE incidence from more reliable
studies in young women.
Results and Discussion
The literature shows two levels of VTE incidence rates: community/cohort studies and
database studies. The estimated VTE incidence for women of reproductive age was 5.5���13.5
and 3.8���12.2 in community and cohort studies, respectively, but only 0.7���3.8 per
10,000 women-years (WY) in database studies. This difference is probably attributable
to methodological problems associated with some database studies.
Conclusion
The VTE incidence in women of reproductive age is likely to be in the range of 5���10
per 10,000 WY. These rates for the background incidence are clearly higher than the
reference figures that are often utilized in the comparison with users of hormonal
contraception (0.5���1 VTE per 10,000 WY).
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 19, 2007
Accepted:
December 21,
2006
Received:
November 14,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
