Thromboembolic conditions account for 1 in 4 deaths worldwide and are the leading cause of mortality. Ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke comprise the major arterial thromboses and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) together comprise venous thromboembolism (VTE). The global incidence rate (IR) for VTE is 115 to 269 per 100,000 and mortality rates (MR) for VTE is 9.4 to 32.3. Global public awareness is substantially lower for PE (54%) and DVT (44%) than heart attack (88%) and stroke (85%).
Over time, the incidence and MRs of these conditions have improved in developed countries, but are increasing in developing countries. Public health efforts to measure disease burden and increase awareness of symptoms and risk factors need to improve, particularly in low- and middle-income regions to address this leading cause of morbidity and mortality. March is DVT…
