The use of inferior vena caval filters (IVCFs) for pulmonary embolism (PE) increased from 1999 through 2010, according to research published in the March 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The researchers found that the rate of IVCF placement (per 100,000 beneficiary-years) for PE increased from 19.0 to 32.5. As the total number of hospitalizations for PE increased, the rate of IVCF placement per 1,000 PE hospitalizations changed from 157.6 to 164.1.

IVCF placement was higher in black patients and patients aged 85 years or older; otherwise, results were consistent across demographic subgroups. Utilization of IVCF varied widely by region, with the highest rate in the South Atlantic region and the lowest rate in the Mountain region.

Read more at www.medicalxpress.com