Leg compression socks reduce risk of long-haul DVT

People who wear compression stockings on long-haul flights may have one-tenth the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as those who do not wear them, a review of medical research published in The Cochrane Library has concluded.

The review showed that airline passengers who travelled for long distances could expect a substantial reduction in the incidence of symptomless DVT if they wore compression stockings, said lead review author professor Mike Clarke, director of the UK Cochrane Centre.

In nine trials involving 2,800 people of different ages, sexes and risk categories on flights that lasted more than seven hours, a total of 47 passengers who were not wearing compression stockings developed DVT, compared with only three who wore them.

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Ref: The Cochrane Library, issue 2, April 19, 2006

www.cochrane.org