Brazil broke a record for cases of venous thrombosis in 2023. In the first eight months of the year alone, 165 people were hospitalized per day in the public health network for treatment of the disease. The conclusion is from an unprecedented survey by the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV), based on data from the Ministry of Health.
Also according to the study, between January 2012 and August 2023, more than 489 thousand Brazilians were hospitalized to treat the disease. For the entity, the data highlights the need to raise awareness in society about healthier habits, in addition to daily care related to vascular health.
Thrombosis can affect various regions of the body and its symptoms include swelling, pain and changes in skin color. Risk factors are a sedentary lifestyle, use of contraceptive pills, smoking, obesity and hereditary factors.
The disease can also have tragic consequences, as explained by doctor Armando Lobato, who is part of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery. “This thrombosis is nothing more than a clot. And this clot can break away from the vein and reach the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism, and this can lead to a mortality rate in diagnosed cases above 15%”, explains the cardiologist.
The doctor also highlights that preventing thrombosis involves changing habits. “Stop smoking, for example. An overweight or obese person has a greater risk of thrombosis, due to their mobility”, observes Dr. Armando Lobato.