The Swiss cohort of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (SWITCO65+): rationale and methodology

Publication

The Swiss cohort of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (SWITCO65+): rationale and methodology

Journal Paper/Review - Nov 1, 2013

Méan Marie, Trelle Sven, Matter Christian M, Husmann Marc, Banyai Martin, Aschwanden Markus, Egloff Michael, Mazzolai Lucia, Hugli Olivier, Bounameaux Henri, Limacher Andreas, Rodondi Nicolas, Righini Marc, Jaeger Kurt, Beer Hans-Jürg, Frauchiger Beat, Osterwalder Joseph, Kucher Nils, Lämmle Bernhard, Cornuz Jacques, Angelillo-Scherrer Anne, Aujesky Drahomir

Citation

Méan M, Trelle S, Matter C, Husmann M, Banyai M, Aschwanden M, Egloff M, Mazzolai L, Hugli O, Bounameaux H, Limacher A, Rodondi N, Righini M, Jaeger K, Beer H, Frauchiger B, Osterwalder J, Kucher N, Lämmle B, Cornuz J, Angelillo-Scherrer A, Aujesky D. The Swiss cohort of elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (SWITCO65+): rationale and methodology. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2013; 36:475-83.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

J Thromb Thrombolysis 2013; 36

Publication Date

Nov 1, 2013

Issn Electronic

1573-742X

Pages

475-83

Brief description/objective

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common and has a high impact on morbidity, mortality, and costs of care. Although most of the patients with VTE are aged ≥65 years, there is little data about the medical outcomes in the elderly with VTE. The Swiss Cohort of Elderly Patients with VTE (SWITCO65+) is a prospective multicenter cohort study of in- and outpatients aged ≥65 years with acute VTE from all five Swiss university and four high-volume non-university hospitals. The goal is to examine which clinical and biological factors and processes of care drive short- and long-term medical outcomes, health-related quality of life, and medical resource utilization in elderly patients with acute VTE. The cohort also includes a large biobank with biological material from each participant. From September 2009 to March 2012, 1,863 elderly patients with VTE were screened and 1003 (53.8%) were enrolled in the cohort. Overall, 51.7% of patients were aged ≥75 years and 52.7% were men. By October 16, 2012, after an average follow-up time of 512 days, 799 (79.7%) patients were still actively participating. SWITCO65+ is a unique opportunity to study short- and long-term outcomes in elderly patients with VTE. The Steering Committee encourages national and international collaborative research projects related to SWITCO65+, including sharing anonymized data and biological samples.