DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY-EMBOLISM IN THE GENERAL-POPULATION- THE STUDY OF MEN BORN IN 1913

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are common public health problems. Still, little is known about the epide miology and the natural history of venous thromboembolism. Methods: In the Study of Men Born in 1913, 855 men were followed up prospectively from the age of 50 years to the age of 80 years. Several cross-sectio nal samples, also of men born in 1913, were studied at the ages of 50, 54, 60, 67, 75, and 80 years. Objective methods were used to ascertai n a diagnosis of DVT or PE, and all were confirmed by hospital records or autopsy reports. The follow-up rate in the longitudinal study was 98.2%. Results: In the longitudinal study, the incidence of DVT was 18 2 per 100 000 observation-years. Corresponding incidence rates were 98 for nonfatal PE, 107 for fatal PE, and 387 for all thromboembolic eve nts. The cumulative probability for a venous thromboembolic event at d ifferent ages was estimated to be 0.5% by the age of 50 years and 10.7 % by the age of 80 years. In the cross-sectional studies, a history of confirmed venous thromboembolism was found in 0.50/;, of the men at a ge 50 years, 0.9% at age 54 years, 1.3% at age 60 years, 2.0% at age 6 7 years, 4.5% at age 75 years, and 3.8% at age 80 years. Conclusions: The results indicate a high incidence of DVT and PE in the general pop ulation. The incidence of thromboembolic events increases with age. Th e rate of fatal PE seems to be higher than estimated before, and PE co nstitutes almost 5% of all deaths during follow-up.