Long-Term Association of Venous Thromboembolism With Frailty, Physical Functioning, and Quality of Life: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background Relatively little is known about the long-term consequences of venous thromboembolism (VTE) on physical functioning. We compared long-term frailty status, physical function, and quality of life among survivors of VTE with survivors of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and with those without these diseases. Methods and Results Cases of VTE, CHD, and stroke were continuously identified since ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study) recruitment during 1987 to 1989. Functional measures were objectively captured at ARIC clinic visits 5 (2011-2013) and 6 (2016-2017); quality of life was self-reported. The 6161 participants at visit 5 were, on average, 75.7 (range, 66-90) years of age. By visit 5, 3.2% had had a VTE, 6.9% CHD, and 3.4% stroke. Compared with those without any of these conditions, VTE survivors were more likely to be frail (odds ratio [OR], 3.11; 95% CI, 1.80-5.36) and have low (