Vikas Gupta MD, MRCP(UK), MRCPath, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Old age is usually considered a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the incidence of VTE increases exponentially with age. Associated comorbid conditions such as heart failure, postoperative states, malignancy and long-term immobility contribute considerably towards the higher incidence of these hypercoagulable disorders in this subgroup of patients. The optimal, cost-effective laboratory work-up for underlying thrombophilic or hypercoagulable states is not clear in older patients. The main aim of this article is to review the inherited thrombophilic disorders and discuss their clinical relevance in older patients.
Key words: hypercoagulable disorders, thrombophilia, venous thromboembolism, risk factors.