Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality [1]. VTE represents a major health problem for high prevalence, incidence, and costs [2]. The number of people affected by VTE is unknown, although as many as 900,000 people could be affected (1 to 2 per 1,000) each year in the United States [2]. Estimates suggest that 10 to 30% of people will die within one month of diagnosis and that sudden death is the first symptom in about one-quarter (25%) of those who have a PE. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are highly effective for the acute and long-term treatment of VTE and VTE recurrences,[3,4] but are burdened by a two- to threefold increased risk of causing a clinically significant bleeding episode compared with placebo [3,4].
