Is TV Watching Associated with Increased Risk for Venous Thromboembolism?

In a cohort study of adults, neither moderate nor heavy television viewing was associated with increased risk for VTE.

A sedentary lifestyle has been implicated as a potential risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). To address the association between television viewing and VTE risk, investigators utilized data from a racially and geographically diverse U.S. cohort.

Of 20,322 adults included in the study, 50% reported moderate (2–4 hours per day) television viewing and 30% reported heavy (≥4 hours per day) viewing. There were 214 VTE events during a median follow-up of 5 years.

Key findings include:

The crude VTE incidence rate was 2.22 events per 1000 patient-years (light viewing, 2.16; moderate viewing, 2.07; heavy viewing, 2.49).
Although heavy-television viewers had higher rates of baseline VTE risk factors (obesity, poor physical activity, increased C…

Reviewing Author

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Is TV Watching Associated with Increased Risk for Venous Thromboembolism?

Topics

Reviewing Author