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. 2020 Sep 5;49(2):153-158.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2020-0298. Print 2021 Feb 23.

Risk factors for pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism in Singapore

Sandra Lynn Jaya-Bodestyne  1 , Lai Heng Lee  2 , Lay Kok Tan  3 , Kok Hian Tan  4 , Truls Østbye  1 , Rahul Malhotra  1 , John Allen  1 , Sophie Seine Xuan Tan  5 , Melinda Si Yun Tan  2 , Lawrence Cheng Kiat Ng  2 , Yang Yong  6 , Thiam Chye Tan  4
Affiliations
Free article

Risk factors for pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism in Singapore

Sandra Lynn Jaya-Bodestyne et al. J Perinat Med. .
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: Pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess potential risk factors for pregnancy-associated VTE.

Methods: In this case-control study, women with pregnancy-associated VTE were identified via International Classification of Diseases codes and included if they had been objectively diagnosed with VTE during pregnancy or within six weeks postpartum, from 2004 to 2016, at KK Women's and Children's Hospital or Singapore General Hospital in Singapore. Controls, i.e. pregnant women without VTE, were selected from a prospective longitudinal study. The odds ratio (OR) for VTE was computed for a range of maternal and obstetric factors.

Results and conclusions: From 2004 to 2016, 89 cases of pregnancy-associated VTE and 926 controls were identifed and analysed using logistic regression. The most significant risk factors for pregnancy-associated VTE were smoking (OR 5.44, p=0.0002) and preterm delivery (OR 5.06, p=0.023). Malay race, multiparity, non-O blood group and caesarean section, were also identified to be of higher risk. These risk factors should be useful in the development of thromboprophylaxis strategies for pregnancy and the postpartum period, especially in Singapore.

Keywords: postpartum; pregnancy; risk factors; venous thromboembolism.

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