Location of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in relation to age and survival

The aim of the study was to determine the effect on long-term survival of the location of DVT in relation to age groups and side of operation. 1310 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty and who participated in one of 7 randomized, prospective clinical trials with thromboprophylaxis were included in this analysis. A trend analysis showed that the incidence of proximal and distal DVT increased significantly with age (p < 0.05). In patients older than 64 years of age the relative risk of death was non-significantly higher when proximal DVT was present compared to patients without DVT and the relative risk of death was non-significantly higher in patients older than 74 years of age when distal thrombi was present compared to patients without DVT. The test for trend showed an increase with age in the incidence of both ipsi- and contralateral DVT; the increase was significant in patients with contralateral DVT (p < 0.05). The relative risk of death was higher (of borderline significance) in patients older than 74 years of age with contralateral DVT. In conclusion, the pattern of location of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis changes with increasing age. The location of asymptomatic and treated DVT has no significant influence on long-term survival.