Sex Difference in Risk of Second but not of First Venous Thrombosis: Paradox Explained.

Link to article at PubMed

Sex Difference in Risk of Second but not of First Venous Thrombosis: Paradox Explained.

Circulation. 2013 Oct 21;

Authors: Roach RE, Lijfering WM, Rosendaal FR, Cannegieter SC, le Cessie S

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The risk of recurrent venous thrombosis is twofold higher in men than in women. In contrast, no such sex difference in the risk of first venous thrombosis has been reported. We hypothesized that, for a first event, a risk difference between the sexes is masked by female exposure to reproductive factors (oral contraception, pregnancy/puerperium and postmenopausal hormone therapy).
METHODS AND RESULTS: From the MEGA study, a population-based case-control study on risk factors for venous thrombosis, 2915 patients with a first venous thrombosis, and their partners as control subjects, were included. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for first venous thrombosis were assessed in men compared with women without reproductive risk factors by use of conditional logistic regression. Analyses were stratified in 10-year age categories to account for the variation in exposure to reproductive risk factors over different age groups, and adjusted for body mass index and smoking. Overall, men had a 2.1-fold (95%CI, 1.9-2.4) increased risk of first venous thrombosis compared with women without reproductive risk factors. Similar results were found when 10-year age categories were viewed separately. Adjustment for BMI and smoking, and exclusion of cancer patients, did not materially affect the results.
CONCLUSIONS: When female reproductive risk factors are taken into account, the risk of a first venous thrombosis is twice as high in men as in women. These findings are in line with previous studies on recurrent venous thrombosis and may have implications for future treatment and prevention strategies.

PMID: 24146250 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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