THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM

Aleksandra Piech; Karolina Pasierb; Tomasz Ufniarski; Martyna Grodzińska; Maria Ufniarska; Karol Poplicha; Justyna Moszkowicz; Piotr Sobkiewicz; Patrycja Kardasz; Bartłomiej Siuzdak; Marta Jutrzenka; Patrycja Ucieklak

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3728

Aleksandra Piech Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, Lwowska 60, 35-301 Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4485-2200
Karolina Pasierb The University Hospital in Krakow, Jakubowskiego 2, 30-668 Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5806-3508
Tomasz Ufniarski University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk, Dębinki 7, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6555-3403
Martyna Grodzińska Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center, pl. Ludwika Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1001-6484
Maria Ufniarska Saint Adalbert Hospital in Gdańsk, aleja Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5927-4811
Karol Poplicha National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warszawa, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3835-9777
Justyna Moszkowicz Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, Lwowska 60, 35-301 Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2582-6187
Piotr Sobkiewicz Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center, pl. Ludwika Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6610-440X
Patrycja Kardasz Saint Adalbert Hospital in Gdańsk, aleja Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8137-9789
Bartłomiej Siuzdak Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, Lwowska 60, 35-301 Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8691-6617
Marta Jutrzenka Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego Sp. z o.o., Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warszawa, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7266-1586
Patrycja Ucieklak District Hospital in Zawiercie, ul. Miodowa 14, 42-400 Zawiercie, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3681-1051

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3728

Keywords: Venous Thromboembolism, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Risks of Venous Thromboembolism

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which consists of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. Despite improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, its mortality rates are still high and remain a major problem in public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults (aged 18–64 years) engage in at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week. Prolonged sedentary behavior contributes to increased venous compression in the lower extremities, leading to reduced venous return and an elevated risk of VTE. Many studies have observed a risk increase of up to 2-10% per additional hour of prolonged sitting. In the literature, a positive correlation was found between higher levels of PA and reduced risk of VTE, indicating a significant reduction in risk for those with higher levels of PA, even at levels below norms established by the WHO. However, some research indicates that the highest level of physical exertion—defined as regularly engaging in hard physical training (i.e., vigorous exercise or participation in competitive sports several times per week)—was associated with a twofold increased risk of first-time VTE. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the impact of physical activity on venous thromboembolism.

Material and method: A review of available literature from the PubMed database from 2005 to 2024.

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THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM

Abstract

References

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