Sex Difference of Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract

Purpose: Sex may have an influence on the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) as well as chronic lung disease. We aimed to explore the role of sex in relation to the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We evaluated the VTE prevalence associated with COPD, ILD, and RA, using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, from January 2013 to December 2013, which included 40,593,174 (≥ 20 years), Korean residents. The number of patients with COPD, ILD, and RA was 222,130, 20,946, and 89,280, respectively. The patients were identified as having COPD, ILD, or RA based on the International Classification of Disease-10 diagnostic codes. Results: Risk of DVT in women had a 0.71-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-1.25) lower than men with RA. Risk of DVT in women had a 2.41 (95% CI, 1.93-2.99), 2.75-fold (95% CI, 1.08-6.99) higher men with COPD and ILD, respectively. Risk of PE in women had a 0.70-fold (95% CI, 0.39-1.25) lower than men with RA. Risk of PE in women had a 2.57 (95% CI, 2.25-2.93), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.24-2.75)-fold higher than men with COPD and ILD, respectively. Conclusion: A significantly higher prevalence of PE and DVT was observed in women, than men, with COPD and ILD. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of PE and DVT in the case of RA, between men and women.