Thromboembolic disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism is still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity for hospitalised patients. While the awareness of the risk for thromboembolic complications for surgical patients is high, and effective prophylactic treatment is normally and systematically prescribed, the situation is very different regarding patients admitted in a internal medical ward. Only recently the usefulness of prophylactic treatment was recognised also for medical patients. A thromboembolic event can be a life threatening complication especially for people affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that represents a significant part of medical hospitalised patients. Moreover symptoms and signs related to the chronic pulmonary disease can be confusing factors that may delay a timely and correct diagnosis of a thromboembolic complication.