Changing Patterns of Risk of Untreated Thromboembolic Disease

Abstract

With advances in the early diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), less severe thromboembolic disease is now diagnosed than in prior decades. Among patients with acute PE, fewer patients with mild PE have signs of DVT. The mortality from untreated DVT is lower in patients with subclinical DVT compared to patients with clinical DVT. The frequency of death from recurrent PE in patients with mild PE is lower than reported in prior decades among untreated patients who presumably had severe PE.