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Pulmonary fibrosis as a risk factor for thromboembolic disease

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 9, pages 160–164 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are well known to be associated with increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, there are few data about the association between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and VTE.

Aim of this study

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of venous thromboembolic events in hospitalized IPF patients and compare it with the incidence in COPD patients.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed the database of interstitial lung disease from 2007 to 2013. We included 629 IPF patients after exclusion of patients with secondary pulmonary fibrosis and those with a concurrent diagnosis of COPD or lung cancer. VTE disease was defined as either deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. For comparison, we also analyzed the database of COPD patients.

Results

Out of the 629 included IPF patients, 13 had thromboembolic events, showing a prevalence for VTE in IPF that is significantly higher than that in COPD (2.1 vs. 1.1%; odds ratio: 1.9; confidence interval: 1.039–3.530; P = 0.035). The prevalence is also significantly higher in female and nonsmoker IPF patients compared with COPD patients (P = 0.008 and 0.011 respectively). Among IPF patients, men had significantly lower risk for VTE compared with women (P = 0.045).

Conclusion

IPF, especially in women, is associated with increased risk for VTE, being greater than the risk in COPD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, 7111, Egypt

    Shereen Farghaly MD (Lecturer) & Ashraf Z. El-Abdin

Authors
  1. Shereen Farghaly MD
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  2. Ashraf Z. El-Abdin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shereen Farghaly MD.

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Farghaly, S., El-Abdin, A.Z. Pulmonary fibrosis as a risk factor for thromboembolic disease. Egypt J Bronchol 9, 160–164 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.158056

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.158056

Keywords

  • idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • prevalence
  • venous thromboembolism