Although DM was originally thought to be an independent risk factor for DM^1,2, more recent data suggest otherwise.

A population-based study involving residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, calculated the incidence of VTE among patients with DM over a 25-year period and found it to be higher than that of controls ² .   However, in the same study, after controlling for hospitalization for major surgery or medical illness and nursing home confinement, no association between DM and VTE was found²  .  

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies involving over 1 million patients found no significant association between DM and VTE when controlled for common risk factors (eg, obesity, sedentary life style, smoking, hypertension, or dyslipidemia)³.  The authors concluded that DM and its complications are not independent risk factors for incident VTE.  

Thus, it appears that much of the risk of DVT in DM may be related to its comorbidities and the need for hospitalization, surgery or nursing home stay.

Liked this post? Download the app on your smart phone and sign up below to catch future pearls right into your inbox, all for free!

 References

1. Petrauskiene V, Falk M, Waernbaum I, et al. The risk of venous thromboembolism is markedly elevated in patients with diabetes. Diabetologia 2005;48:1017-21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15778859
2. Heit JA, Leibson CL, Ashrani AA, et al. Is diabetes mellitus an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism? A population-based case-control study. Thromb Vasc Biol 2009; 29:1399-1405. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735343/
3. Gariani K, Mavrakanas T, Combescure C, et al. Is diabetes mellitus a risk factor for venous thromboembolism? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Eur J Intern Med 2016;28:52-58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26507303

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!