Preexisting Morbidity as an Independent Risk Factor for Perioperative Acute Thromboembolism Syndrome

HYPOTHESIS: Preexisting morbidities are risk factors for perioperative arterial or venous thromboembolic events and subsequent death within 30 postoperative days. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University-affiliated general hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 21,903 surgery patients treated from January 1, 1991, through December 31, 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Independent risk factors for perioperative arterial or venous thromboembolic events. RESULTS: History of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease increased the risk of myocardial infarction (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 4.3 [2.8-6.7]). History of stroke increased the risk of stroke (2.4 [1.4-4.1]) and death (4.7 [1.3-17.3]). Diabetes mellitus increased the risk of myocardial infarction (2.1 [1.3-3.2]), and hyperuricemia increased the risk of stroke (3.5 [1.2-9.8]), and both increased the risk of death (4.3 [1.3-14.1] and 11.8 [2.2-63.5], respectively). History of myocardial infarction increased the risk of deep vein thrombosis (7.7 [1.7-34.7]). Cancer increased the risk of all thromboembolism (2.4 [1.9-3.2]). Trend analysis showed that preexisting morbidities will increase 1.5-fold and thromboembolic events will increase 3-fold during the next decade. CONCLUSION: Cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer are becoming increasingly high-risk comorbidities for perioperative acute thromboembolism syndrome.