Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism in a Racially Diverse Population of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Background Contemporary incidence data for venous thromboembolism (VTE) from racially diverse populations are limited. The racial distribution of Oklahoma County closely mirrors that of the United States. Objective To evaluate VTE incidence and mortality, including demographic and racial subgroups. Design Population-based prospective study. Setting We conducted VTE surveillance at all relevant tertiary care facilities and outpatient clinics in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma during 2012 to 2014, using both active and passive methods. Active surveillance involved reviewing all imaging reports used to diagnose VTE. Passive surveillance entailed identifying VTE events from hospital discharge data and death certificate records. Measurements We used Poisson regression to calculate crude, age-stratified, and age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates per 1,000 population per year and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The incidence rate of all VTE was 3.02 (2.92–3.12) for those age ≥18 years and 0.05 (0.04–0.08) for those <18 years. The age-adjusted incidence rates of all VTE, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism were 2.47 (95% CI: 2.39–2.55), 1.47 (1.41–1.54), and 0.99 (0.93–1.04), respectively. The age-adjusted VTE incidence and the 30-day mortality rates, respectively, were 0.63 and 0.121 for Asians/Pacific Islanders, 3.25 and 0.355 for blacks, 0.67 and 0.111 for Hispanics, 1.25 and 0.195 for Native Americans, and 2.71 and 0.396 for whites. Conclusion The age-adjusted VTE incidence and mortality rates vary substantially by race. The incidence of three per 1,000 adults per year indicates an important disease burden, and is informative of the burden in the U.S. population.