Table 2.
—Risk Factors for VTE in Hospitalized Medical Patients9
| Risk Factor | Points |
| Active cancera |
3 |
| Previous VTE (with the exclusion of superficial vein thrombosis) |
3 |
| Reduced mobilityb |
3 |
| Already known thrombophilic conditionc |
3 |
| Recent (≤ 1 mo) trauma and/or surgery |
2 |
| Elderly age (≥ 70 y) |
1 |
| Heart and/or respiratory failure |
1 |
| Acute myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke |
1 |
| Acute infection and/or rheumatologic disorder |
1 |
| Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) |
1 |
| Ongoing hormonal treatment | 1 |
In the Padua Prediction Score risk assessment model, high risk of VTE is defined by a cumulative score ≥ 4 points. In a prospective observational study of 1,180 medical inpatients, 60.3% of patients were low risk and 39.7% were high risk. Among patients who did not receive prophylaxis, VTE occurred in 11.0% of high-risk patients vs 0.3% of low-risk patients (HR, 32.0; 95% CI, 4.1-251.0). Among high-risk patients, the risk of DVT was 6.7%, nonfatal PE 3.9%, and fatal PE 0.4%.9 HR = hazard ratio.
Patients with local or distant metastases and/or in whom chemotherapy or radiotherapy had been performed in the previous 6 mo.
Anticipated bed rest with bathroom privileges (either because of patient's limitations or on physician's order) for at least 3 d.
Carriage of defects of antithrombin, protein C or S, factor V Leiden, G20210A prothrombin mutation, antiphospholipid syndrome.