By the Numbers: 547,596

Average annual number of hospitalized adult patients with a venous thromboembolism (VTE) during 2007 to 2009.

A total of 348,558 hospitalized patients had deep vein thromboses, 277,549 had pulmonary embolisms, and 78,511 had both, according to estimates compiled for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).¹ Of those patients with hospital VTEs, 28,726 die each year. The risk for VTE is known to be elevated in hospitalized patients due to major surgery, immobility, or comorbid conditions. Although it can often be prevented through appropriate administration of prophylaxis—either pharmacologic agents or mechanical devices—

CDC notes that “current use of prophylaxis in hospitalized patients might be suboptimal.”