Combined Effect of Hemoglobin Levels and Obesity on the Risk of Incident Venous Thromboembolism: The Tromsø Study

TH Open 2026 Open access

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Authors: Lisa Jakobsen, Fridtjof Balteskard Rinde, John-Bjarne Hansen, Vania Maris Morelli, Sigrid Kufaas Brækkan
DOI: 10.1055/a-2811-5034
Cited by: 1
References: 48

Abstract

Abstract Red blood cells (RBCs) are key determinants of blood viscosity, which is related to thrombosis risk. Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Whether the combination of these two risk factors synergistically increases VTE risk has not been studied. We aimed to investigate the joint effect of high hemoglobin and obesity on the risk of VTE in a population-based cohort. We included 35,801 participants from the Tromsø 4–7 surveys (1994–2016). All first-lifetime VTEs were validated and recorded from enrollment throughout 2020. Hemoglobin levels were categorized as low (women:

Fields of Study & Subjects

Blood properties and coagulation Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosis and Management Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis

Publication details

Journal / source
TH Open
Publisher
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Volume
10
Issue
CP
Pages
a28115034–a28115034
Publication date
13 February 2026
Language
EN