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Deep vein thrombosis - Management
What are the risk factors for deep vein thrombosis?
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is more likely to occur in people with continuing or intrinsic risk factors, such as:
- Previous venous thromboembolism.
- Cancer (known or undiagnosed).
- Increasing age, being overweight or obese, and male sex.
- Heart failure.
- Acquired or familial thrombophilia.
- Chronic low-grade injury to the vascular wall (for example, vasculitis, hypoxia from venous stasis, or chemotherapy).
- Risk factors that temporarily raise the likelihood of DVT include:
- Immobility (for example, following a stroke, operation, plaster cast, hospitalization, or during long-distance travel).
- Significant trauma or direct trauma to a vein (for example, intravenous catheter).
- Hormone treatment (for example, oestrogen-containing contraception or hormone replacement therapy).
- Pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- Dehydration.
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