PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Amir K. Jaffer
TI  - An overview of venous thromboembolism: Impact, risks, and issues in prophylaxis
DP  - 2008 Apr 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - S3--S6
VI  - 75
IP  - 4 suppl 3
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4_suppl_3/S3.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/75/4_suppl_3/S3.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2008 Apr 01; 75
AB  - Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of cardiovascular death, and its close association with increased age portends an increasing clinical and economic impact for VTE as the US population ages. Studies show that rates of VTE prophylaxis remain inadequate both in the hospital and at the time of discharge. Health care accreditation and quality organizations are taking interest in VTE risk assessment and prophylaxis as a measure for hospital performance ratings and even reimbursement. To set the stage for the rest of this supplement, this article reviews the rationale for VTE prophylaxis, surveys current prophylaxis rates and strategies to increase those rates, and provides an overview of risk factors for VTE and therapeutic options for VTE prophylaxis.