Thromboembolism risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Almost anyone can have thromboembolic event. However, certain factors can increase the risk of developing this condition. The risk increases even more for someone who has more than one risk factor at the same time.

• Sedentary life style
• Elderly
• Atrial fibrillation
• Sepsis
• Prolonged bed rest and / or immobility
• Pregnancy
• Hyperemesis
• Dehydration
• Cesarean delivery
• Congestive heart failure
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Severe varicose veins
• Family history of thromboembolism
• Thrombophilia

• Factor V Leiden mutation
• Prothrombin G20210A mutation

• Decreased antithrombin level
• Decreased Protein C level
• Decreased Protein S level
• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Long air travel
• Oral contraceptives
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Minor injuries^[1]

Source: CDC

• Injury to the vein, often caused by:

• Fractures,
• Severe muscle injury,
• Major surgery (particularly involving the abdomen, pelvis, hip, or legs).

• Slow blood flow, often caused by:

• Confinement to bed (e.g., due to a medical condition or after surgery);
• Limited movement (e.g., a cast on a leg to help heal an injured bone;
• Sitting for a long time, especially with crossed legs; or
• Paralysis.

• Increased estrogen, often caused by:

• Birth control pills;
• Hormone replacement therapy, sometimes used after menopause; or
• Pregnancy, for up to 6 weeks after giving birth.

• Certain chronic medical illnesses, such as:

• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Cancer and its treatment
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Vasculitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Behçet’s syndrome
• Homocystinuria

• Trauma

• Multiple trauma
• CNS/spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Lower extremity fractures

• Other risk factors include:

• Previous DVT
• Family history of DVT
• Age (risk increases as age increases)
• Obesity
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• A catheter located in a central vein
• Inherited clotting disorders. An inherited clotting disorder might be suspected when a person has repeated DVTs that cannot be linked to any specific cause (such as recent surgery) or develops DVT in a vein at an unusual location, such as a vein in the liver, kidney, or brain.

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