Journal of internal medicine
-
Although deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are manifestations of the same disease, far from all patients develop PE. Our objective was to investigate risk-modifying factors. SETTING, SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Between 1970 and 1982, 23,796 autopsies, representing 84% of all in-hospital deaths in the Malmö City population, were performed, using a standardized procedure. In a case-control study nested in a population-based cohort of patients with proximal DVT, the relationship between PE and body mass index (BMI), thoracic and abdominal subcutaneous (SC) fat thickness was evaluated. ⋯ We found no differences in age- and gender distribution between PE cases and controls. BMI and SC fat thickness were markers of disease progression from proximal DVT to PE. The highly significant and independent association indicates that SC obesity may be of greater importance in venous thromboembolism as compared with cardiovascular diseases related to visceral (abdominal) obesity with lipid- and glucose metabolic disturbances.