Venous thromboembolism hospitalizations among American Indians and Alaska Natives

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported to be on the increase in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. The Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital discharge database was used to describe venous thromboembolism (VTE)-associated hospitalizations among patients receiving IHS-reported medical care in the United States from 1980 through 1996. The average overall VTE-associated hospitalization rate in the AI/AN population during 1980-1996 was 33.1 per 100,000, however, the rate significantly decreased from 38.4 per 100,000 AI/ANs in 1980-1982 to 33.2 in 1994-1996. The average age at hospitalization was 50.4 years, which was consistent during the 17-year period. The overall annual VTE hospitalization rate was higher for females than for males (38.0 versus 27.7 per 100,000). The female VTE hospitalization rates decreased significantly from 46.1 per 100,000 in 1980-1982 to 36.7 per 100,000 in 1994-1996 (risk ratio: RR=1.3; 95% confidence interval: CI=1.1-1.4), while the rates for males remained unchanged. The VTE hospitalization rates also varied by geographic region. The hospitalization rate was highest in the East region (52.2 per 100,000) and lowest in the Alaska region (16.1 per 100,000). These data indicate that the overall VTE rate for AI/ANs may not have only decreased, but appears lower than the reported rate for Caucasians.