Does COVID-19 Confer Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in Ambulatory Patients?

Evidence is mixed about risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) among patients with ambulatory SARS-CoV-2 infections (NEJM JW Gen Med May 1 2021 and JAMA Intern Med 2021; 181:997; NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 1 2022 and BMJ 2022; 377:e069590). In this U.K. population-based cohort study, researchers determined the 30-day risk for VTE (i.e., deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) among 19,000 outpatients (mean age, 64) with ambulatory COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2–positive patients had significantly higher risk for VTE within 30 days than did matched controls (incidence rate, 51 vs. 2 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio, 21). Excess risk was higher for unvaccinated people (HR, 28) than for vaccinated people (HR, 6). Among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection…