The risk of lower-limb superficial vein thrombosis relative to lower-limb venous thrombotic events is not increased in winter months. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henni, Samir; Ramondou, Pierre; Duval, Guillaume; Picquet, Jean; Leftheriotis, Georges; Abraham, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Phlebology. Volume 35:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 537
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Incidence -- risk factors -- seasonality -- thrombosis; Veins -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.14
• DOI: 10.1177/0268355519896729
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-3555

Abstract

Objectives: Ambient temperature (that impacts differently venous flow in superficial and deep veins) could have a different effect on the risk of superficial and deep venous thrombosis. We searched for a trimestral variation of the risk of superficial venous thrombosis among all lower-limb thrombotic events (lower-limb thrombotic events = superficial venous thrombosis + deep venous thrombosis). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the results of venous ultrasound investigations performed among 11, 739 patients (aged 67 ± 19 years old, 56.1% males) referred for suspected lower-limb thrombotic events over a 12-year period. Chi-square test was used to compare the superficial venous thrombosis/lower-limb thrombotic events ratio observed by trimesters to a homogeneous distribution. Results: The proportion of lower-limb thrombotic events were 30.7%, 28.8%, 31.1%, and 31.4% (Chi 2 : 0.133; p = 0.987) of total investigations, while that of superficial venous thrombosis among all lower-limb venous thrombotic events were 27.2%, 30.0%, 31.4%, and 31.0%, for the first, second, third, and fourth trimesters respectively (Chi 2 : 0.357; p : 0.949). Conclusion: No trimestral variation of the superficial venous thrombosis/lower-limb venous thrombotic events ratio was observed.