Implementing a simple VTE risk
protocol—starting with DVT risk assessment—may
improve patient outcomes

Hospitalized medical patients are at a particularly high risk of developing DVT/PE^1,12

Based on American College of Chest Physicians guidelines criteria, up to 52% of medical patients in US acute care hospitals may be at risk for venous thromboembolism.¹²

The greater the number of risk factors, the higher the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).¹⁵

Risk factors for DVT include:^16-18

Restricted mobility Surgery Age >40 years Personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) Inflammatory bowel disease Intensive care unit admission

Chronic lung disease Smoking Obesity Varicose veins

This is a partial list of risk factors. Clinicians are advised to consider other risk factors or conditions that may predispose patients to DVT/PE.

Comorbid conditions that increase risk include:^16-18

• Congestive heart failure
• Respiratory failure
• Cancer
• Infection

Many hospitalized acutely ill medical patients developed DVT/PE as outpatients

• One study showed that, among patients who developed DVT/PE as outpatients, 67% (n=264) did so within
  1 month of discharge¹⁹