Socioeconomic factors and concomitant diseases are related to the risk for venous thromboembolism during long time follow-up

While the risk for arterial vascular disease has been shown to be influenced by socioeconomic status (SES), there is limited information whether SES also influences the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). To evaluate whether there is an association between SES and VTE incidence. In 1990, all 730,050 inhabitants (379,465 women and 350,585 men) above 25 years of age in the County of Skane in Sweden were evaluated with regard to age, household income, marital status, country of birth, number of years of residence in Sweden, educational level, and concomitant diseases. The cohort was hereafter prospectively investigated regarding diagnosis of, or death from VTE (deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), during 1991-2003. The association between socioeconomic data and concomitant diseases at the baseline investigation 1990 and incidence of VTE during follow-up was examined by Cox proportional hazard models. During the 13 years prospective follow-up, 10,212 women and 7,922 men were diagnosed with VTE. In both genders, age above 40 years at baseline, low income, single status, and a lower level of education were associated with an increased risk of VTE. However, both men and women born outside of Sweden have a lower risk for VTE during follow-up, however. Age above 40 years, low income, single marital status, and lower level of education were independently related to an increased risk of VTE diagnosis during 13 years of prospective follow-up.