Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially life‐threatening condition, is a complication associated with various medical procedures. However, limited national data are currently available to comprehensively assess the incidence and risk factors for VTE following maintenance dialysis (MD). This study addresses this gap by investigating the prevalence and potential predictors of VTE in a large, nationally representative database of patients undergoing MD. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for the years 2010–2019. The study population included patients for whom elective MD served as the primary procedure. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the association between demographic characteristics, pre‐existing medical conditions (comorbidities), and postdialysis complications in MD patients with the occurrence of VTE. Results Our analysis revealed an overall prevalence of VTE in 34,698 patients undergoing MD, translating to an incidence rate of 2.43%. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the incidence and risk factors for VTE following MD. Compared to patients without VTE, those who developed VTE exhibited a higher burden of preoperative comorbidities, extended hospitalization, increased hospital charges, and a significantly higher in‐hospital mortality rate ( p < 0.001). Additionally, VTE following MD was associated with major complications during hospitalization, including thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and sepsis. Furthermore, preoperative risk factors independently associated with VTE included acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), rheumatoid arthritis, coagulopathy, drug abuse, hypertension, lymphoma, fluid and electrolyte disorders, metastatic cancer, other neurological disorders, paralysis, and solid tumors without metastasis ( p < 0.001). Conclusions A comprehensive understanding of the risk factors contributing to VTE development following MD is crucial for implementing preventive measures and mitigating associated adverse outcomes.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.