Malgorzata Dybowska1, Witold Z. Tomkowski1, Pawel Kuca1, Dariusz Chmielewski2
1Cardio-Pulmonary Intensive Care Department, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
2Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, HOSPITEN Hospital, Puerto del Carmen – Lanzarote, Spain
No conflict of interest
Abstract
Published data concerning increased incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) in different seasons of the year are divergent.
In the 12-month period lasting from 1st December 2007 to 30th November 2008, 48 cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs were diagnosed in the population of Bemowo, a district of Warsaw. The analysis of the incidence of DVT of the lower limbs occurrence at particular times of the year was performed.
During the winter time, 11 episodes of DVT were diagnosed and, respectively, 16 episodes during the spring, 11 during the summer and 10 episodes of DVT during autumn.
Using the Chi-square test, the authors revealed no statistically significant differences in the incidence of DVT of the lower extremities in different seasons.
Key words: venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, epidemiology
Acta Angiol 2015; 21, 1: 8–10
Introduction
Data on epidemiology of increased incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) at particular times of the year are divergent.
There are both reports of increased incidence of VTE in the winter months [1–7] and studies in which there was no seasonal incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) [8–10] in current literature.
Methodology
In this study, we analyzed the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in the population of the 104,262 inhabitants of Bemowo during 12 months (from 1st December 2007 to 30th November 2008). This period was divided into three-month intervals corresponding to different seasons of the year.
We adopted the following criteria:
– Winter: from December 1 to February 28;
– Spring: from March 1 to May 31;
– Summer: from June 1 to August 31;
– Autumn: from September 1 to November 30.
Demographic characteristics of population are shown in Table 1.
40 general practitioner (GP) practices cooperated in this period with the center performing ultrasound tests. The only inclusion criterion in the study was: patients with clinical signs of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs living in Bemowo district.
Table 1. Demographic characteristics of population
Population | |
Number of people | 104 262 |
Age 20–40 years | 44% |
Age 41–60 years | 36% |
Age 61–80 years | 17% |
Age > 80 years | 3% |
Male | 47% |
Female | 53% |
In order to confirm thrombosis, all patients with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities underwent ultrasonography of deep veins. We analyzed both proximal and distal portion of deep venous system of the lower limbs. DVT was proved by an ultrasound compression test performed in accordance with generally accepted principles [11–13].
The study was performed using Vivid 3 S/N 6452 General Electric Medical Systems.
The study was approved by local ethical committee (EC at the Institute of TB and Lung Diseases in Warsaw, Poland).
All patients gave written consent for ultrasonography examination.
Statistical analysis
The statistical significance of these correlations was tested using the Chi-square test.
Results
During the 12-month period from 1st December 2007 to 30th November 2008, 48 cases of DVT of the lower limbs were diagnosed in the population of Bemowo.
The analysis of lower limbs DVT morbidity at particular times of the year was performed.
In winter we found 11 episodes of DVT and in other seasons of the year, respectively, 16 in the spring, 11 in the summer and 10 episodes in the autumn.
Using the Chi-square test, we revealed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.6077) in the incidence of DVT of the lower limbs at particular times of the year.
The summary of the results is presented in Table 2.
Summary
In a one-year observation, in the studied population, there was no statistically significant correlation between the season of the year and the occurrence of confirmed deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. A limitation of the presented results is the small number of confirmed DVT (48 identified cases of lower limbs DVT).
Table 2. Comparison of the incidence of lower limb DVT in different seasons of the year in the population of Bemowo during 12-month period
Season | DVT | |
Winter | N N/100 000 | 11 10.55 |
Spring | N N/100 000 | 16 15.35 |
Summer | N N/100 000 | 11 10.55 |
Autumn | N N/100 000 | 10 9.59 |
p = 0.6077 |
Discussion
Epidemiological data regarding the increased incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) in particular seasons of the year are divergent. In a retrospective work and in other publications, Bounameaux and colleagues found no seasonal incidence of DVT [8–10].
However, in the literature there are reports of increased incidence of VTE in the winter months [1–7]. Increased incidence of DVT in the winter is being explained by some authors by changes in the coagulation system associated with the low temperature, which raises the tendency of thrombus formation, reduced venous flow in the legs as well as a vasoconstrictor effect of low temperatures on veins [5, 14].
French data confirms the greater number of hospitalizations due to VTE in the winter months [5]. The authors suggest that hypercoagulability in the winter is probably associated with more frequent respiratory infections. In addition, during the winter an important reduction of physical activity usually occurs, and the relative immobilization is a recognized risk factor of VTE [5].
In a one-year observation, in the present study, there was no statistically significant correlation between the seasons of the year and the frequency of confirmed deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. However, the limitation of the presented results is a low incidence of confirmed DVT.
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Address for correspondence: Malgorzata Dybowska, Cardio-Pulmonary Intensive Care Department, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Płocka 26, 01–138 Warsaw, tel.: 22 431 21 74, mobile: 508 358 337, fax: 22 431 24 22, e-mail: dybowska@mp.pl
Acta Angiol
Vol. 21, No. 1 pp. 8–10
Doi: 10.5603/AA.2015.0002
Copyright © 2015 Via Medica
ISSN 1234–950X