Venous thromboembolic disease: Comparison of management practices in France, Italy and Spain

Background Many national and international guidelines have been established for venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). Homogeneous management practices could be expected in the different European countries. To verify this hypothesis, we compared practices in France, Italy and Spain. Method We used data from the international RIETE registry to compare VTE management between France, Italy and Spain. Results From 2001 January to 2011 January, patients were consecutively included in France (n = 1548), Italy (n = 2083) and Spain (29,824). All patients received anticoagulant treatment. Low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was the most frequently used drug as initial therapy in all three countries, but unfractionated heparin (UFH) was more frequently used in France and Italy than in Spain. In France, the proportion of patients receiving LMWH was lower than the proportion of patients with active cancer (cancer 22.5 %, long-term treatment with LMWH 17.4 %). A vena cava filter was significantly more frequently used in France (5.5 % in France, 3.2 % in Italy and 2 % in Spain, P < 0.0001). High bleeding risk because of surgery with recent thromboembolic disease was the most frequent indication in France and Italy for vena cava filter placement (36.4 %, and 31.3 %, respectively). Conclusion Despite the publication of national and international guidelines, VTE management differs among the three major European countries included in the RIETE registry, France, Italy and Spain.