Shifting Priorities in the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism: Time to Focus on Overall Cardiovascular Health

In their study published in the present issue of the journal,[1] Liang et al analyzed the data of more than 275,000 individuals included in the UK Biobank, seeking to determine the association between a comprehensive index of cardiovascular health and the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Using the updated, structured Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score proposed by the American Heart Association,[2] the authors could show that individuals with a high level of cardiovascular health had an up to 41% lower risk of VTE over a median follow-up period of 12.6 years. This association was robust, remaining significant after adjustment for the patients' demographic characteristics, medical history and socioeconomic status, and it persisted regardless of genetic predisposition for VTE.[1]