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Insights
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) significantly impacts global health, causing substantial disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) lost. This systematic review highlights VTE
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Thrombosis, including venous thromboembolism (VTE), is a major cause of death and disability globally.
- Ischaemic heart disease and stroke collectively caused 25% of worldwide deaths in 2010.
- Data on the global burden of VTE were previously limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the global disease burden of VTE across countries with varying income levels.
- To analyze VTE incidence rates and associated disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) lost.
- To inform policy and resource allocation for VTE prevention and management.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review on the global disease burden of VTE.
- Analysis of incidence data from low, middle, and high-income countries.
- Assessment of VTE's contribution to DALYs lost compared to other hospital-acquired conditions.
Main Results:
- Consistent annual VTE incidence of 0.75-2.69 per 1,000 population in Western countries, increasing to 2-7 per 1,000 in those aged 70+.
- Despite lower incidence, aging populations in East Asia (e.g., China, Korea) contribute to a significant VTE burden.
- Hospital-associated VTE was a leading cause of DALYs lost in low/middle-income countries and second in high-income countries, exceeding other nosocomial infections and adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a significant global health burden across all income levels.
- Hospital-associated VTE is a major contributor to disability and mortality.
- Further data collection and improved preventive strategies are crucial to mitigate the global VTE burden.
Abstract:
Thrombosis is a common pathology underlying ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) documented that ischaemic heart disease and stroke collectively caused one in four deaths worldwide. GBD 2010 did not report data for VTE as a cause of death and disability. We performed a systematic review of the literature on the global disease burden due to VTE in low, middle and high income countries. Studies from Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Southern Latin America (Argentina) yielded consistent results with annual incidences ranging from 0.75 to 2.69 per 1,000 individuals in the population. The incidence increased to between 2 and 7 per 1,000 among those 70 years of age or more. Although the incidence is lower in individuals of Chinese and Korean ethnicity, their disease burden is not low because of population aging. VTE associated with hospitalisation was the leading cause of disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) lost in low and middle income countries, and second in high income countries, responsible for more DALYs lost than nosocomial pneumonia, catheter-related blood stream infections, and adverse drug events. VTE causes a major burden of disease across low, middle, and high income countries. More detailed data on the global burden of VTE should be obtained to inform policy and resource allocation in health systems, and to evaluate if improved utilisation of preventive measures will reduce the burden.
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