After a first episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated according to the guidelines, the risk of thrombotic recurrence must be assessed in order to guide medical treatment. The clinical risk factors (RFs) associated with the first episode of VTE can predict a risk of recurrence after stopping therapy [1]. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recommends categorising patients into those with unprovoked VTE, those with VTE provoked by persistent RFs and those with VTE provoked by transient RFs [2].
