Abstract
Recent epidemiologic studies have suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) in lung fibrosis. Large-scale epidemiologic data regarding the risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis-associated mortality have not been published.
Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1988–2007, we determined the risk of VTE in decedents with pulmonary fibrosis in the United States.
We analysed 46,450,489 records, of which 218,991 met our criteria for “Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.” Among these, 3,815 records also contained a diagnostic code for VTE (1.74%). The risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis decedents was 34% higher than in the background population, and 44% and 54% greater than among decedents with COPD and lung cancer, respectively. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone (for females: 74.3 years vs. 77.4 years, p<0.0001; for men: 72 years vs. 74.4 years, p<0.0001).
Decedents with pulmonary fibrosis have a significantly greater risk of VTE. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis die at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone. These data suggest a link between a pro-fibrotic and a pro-coagulant state.
- ERS
