Blood clot statistics in the US 2026 from the CDC show that venous thromboembolism, which includes leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), affects up to 900,000 Americans a year and kills an estimated 60,000 to 100,000. About half of people with a leg DVT have no symptoms, and treatment usually means blood thinners for at least three months.
Blood Clot in America 2026 – Introduction
Blood clot in the US 2026 rest on a CDC estimate that has barely changed in a decade: up to 900,000 people are affected each year, and 60,000 to 100,000 die. The true count is uncertain, and CDC puts the range at 350,000 to 900,000 cases because many clots are never diagnosed. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) covers two conditions. A DVT is a clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. A PE is a piece of that clot that travels to the lungs, and in about 25% of PE cases the first symptom is sudden death.
The picture in 2026 is one of steady burden and slow treatment progress. Hospital stays still account for more than a third of cases, and long-term complications hit up to half of DVT patients. A new class of Factor XI blood thinners made headlines, but Novartis stopped its two phase 3 cancer-clot trials this year. This report covers incidence, deaths, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, risk factors, complications and research, using CDC, American Heart Association and peer-reviewed sources through October 2026.
Interesting Facts About Blood Clot in the US 2026
US VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM PER YEAR, CDC ESTIMATES
Maximum people affected | ████████████████████████████████████ 900,000
Lowest case estimate | ██████████████ 350,000
Maximum deaths | ████ 100,000
Minimum deaths | ██▌ 60,000
| Fact | Confirmed Data |
|---|---|
| People affected each year | Up to 900,000 |
| Deaths each year | 60,000–100,000 |
| PE cases where sudden death is the first symptom | About 25% |
| VTE cases linked to a recent hospitalization | More than 33% |
| People with VTE who have a recurrence within 10 years | About 33% |
| DVT patients with long-term complications | One-third to one-half |
| DVT cases with no symptoms | About 50% |
| Annual cost, CDC estimate | Up to $10 billion |
Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism; CDC, About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots); CDC Stacks, VTE: Impact of Blood Clots on the United States.
The chart shows how wide the uncertainty is. CDC estimates between 350,000 and 900,000 new cases a year and between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths, so the top of the range is 2.6 times the bottom for cases. The agency says the exact number is unknown because clots are underdiagnosed and some deaths are never traced to them.
The table shows why prevention matters. More than a third of cases are connected to a recent hospital stay, and most of those clots appear after discharge, not during the stay. About a third of patients will have another clot within 10 years. Clots cost the country up to $10 billion a year by the CDC’s estimate, so the burden is both human and financial.
Blood Clot Incidence in the US 2026: Who Gets Clots and How Often
VTE INCIDENCE BY AGE, PER 1,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR (1 block = 0.25)
Under 40 years | ▌ about 0.1
Adults overall | ████ about 1.0
Age 80 | ██████████████████████ about 5.5
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Incidence in adults | About 1 per 1,000 people a year |
| Incidence before age 40 | About 1 per 10,000 a year |
| Incidence at age 80 | About 5–6 per 1,000 a year |
| Hospital stays with a VTE diagnosis, 2007–2009 | About 550,000 a year |
| VTE diagnosed among hospitalizations, 2011 | 2.4% |
| Increased risk with a pre-existing condition in hospital | About 3 times |
| Higher risk among Black adults | About 25% higher in some studies |
Source: CDC Grand Rounds, MMWR, March 2014; CDC, Existing Health Conditions and Blood Clots (PLoS ONE study of 6,710,066 hospitalizations); epidemiologic summaries on age and race, ClinicalTrials.gov. Hospital counts are the latest CDC figures published.
Age is the strongest driver. VTE strikes about 1 in 10,000 adults before age 40, climbs after age 45 and reaches about 5 to 6 per 1,000 by age 80, roughly 55 times the rate for younger adults. That is why a hip or knee operation, a cancer diagnosis or a long hospital stay in an older patient raises risk sharply. Hospitalized adults with a pre-existing condition were about 3 times more likely to develop a clot in CDC’s study.
Race and setting also matter. Some US studies show an incidence about 25% higher among Black Americans, and an analysis of PE patients with obesity found non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest mortality at 16.8 per million, against 8.8 for women and 6.5 for men overall. Hospital data show 2.4% of adult stays included a VTE diagnosis in 2011, and CDC counted about 550,000 such hospital stays a year in 2007–2009.
Blood Clot Deaths in the US 2026: Pulmonary Embolism and Sudden Death
PULMONARY EMBOLISM DEATH COUNTS, DIFFERENT SOURCES (1 block = 5,000)
CDC modeled maximum, per year | ████████████████████ 100,000
CDC modeled minimum, per year | ████████████ 60,000
Death-certificate PE count, per year | ██ about 7,900
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| CDC estimate of VTE deaths a year | 60,000–100,000 |
| PE deaths, American Heart Association | About 100,000 a year |
| PE-related deaths, CDC WONDER, 2006–2019 | 109,992 |
| Average per year from that analysis | About 7,900 |
| PE cases where sudden death is the first symptom | About 25% |
| Clot deaths among people with cancer | A leading cause, after the cancer itself |
Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism; American Heart Association scientific statement on PE disparities (Circulation); CDC WONDER analysis cited therein. The average is calculated by dividing the 14-year total by 14.
Two kinds of numbers describe clot deaths, and they differ greatly. CDC and the AHA estimate 60,000 to 100,000 deaths a year from modeling, while a CDC WONDER analysis of death certificates found 109,992 PE-related deaths over 14 years, about 7,900 a year. The gap likely reflects how deaths are recorded: CDC notes most PE deaths are sudden and their cause often goes unrecognized, so certificates probably undercount them.
The trend matters more than the exact figure. The AHA notes that the PE mortality rate rose between 2008 and 2018, and that rural residents and Black Americans face higher rates. Because 25% of PE patients die suddenly, there may be no chance to treat them first. That is why doctors focus on spotting a leg DVT early, when a blood thinner can stop the clot from traveling.
Leg DVT Symptoms in the US 2026: What to Watch For
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS CASES BY SYMPTOMS (1 block = 2%)
No symptoms | █████████████████████████ about 50%
Leg symptoms | █████████████████████████ about 50%
| Sign | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Swelling | Usually one leg, often the calf; a difference of more than 2 cm suggests DVT |
| Pain or tenderness | Dull, cramp-like ache, often in the calf |
| Warmth | The affected area feels warmer than the other leg |
| Redness or discoloration | May look red or bluish |
| No symptoms | About half of people with DVT |
| Lung warning | Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain may signal a PE |
Source: CDC, About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots); AMBOSS clinical reference, 2026; Mayo Clinic.
Half of all DVTs give no warning. CDC says about 50% of people with a DVT have no symptoms at all, and for those who do, the typical signs are swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth and redness in one leg. A calf more than 2 cm wider than the other is a clinical sign. Because symptoms are so unreliable, the first sign can be a pulmonary embolism.
Symptoms that need urgent care are those that appear in one leg only, develop over hours to days and do not improve with rest. Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing blood can signal a clot in the lung and require emergency treatment. People who have just had surgery, a long hospital stay or a long flight sometimes notice nothing until a clot has already moved.
DVT Diagnosis and Treatment in the US 2026: Tests and Blood Thinners
DVT TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP TIMELINE (1 block = 1 month)
Minimum anticoagulation | ███ 3 months
Typical anticoagulation | ██████ 3-6 months
Compression stockings | ████████████████████████ 24 months or more
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Low clinical probability | D-dimer first; below 500 ng/mL rules out DVT |
| Moderate or high probability | Duplex ultrasound, the most accurate test |
| Main treatment | Anticoagulants such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, heparin or warfarin |
| Typical duration | At least 3 months, often 3–6 months |
| Warfarin | Needs regular blood tests to monitor levels |
| Compression stockings | May be worn 2 years or more |
| Severe cases | Clot removal, thrombolysis or an IVC filter |
Source: Mayo Clinic, DVT diagnosis and treatment; CDC, About Venous Thromboembolism; AMBOSS clinical reference, 2026.
Diagnosis follows a short path. A doctor estimates the probability of a clot first. If the probability is low, a D-dimer blood test below 500 ng/mL rules DVT out. If the test is positive or the probability is moderate or high, a duplex ultrasound confirms or excludes the clot. Duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to show blood flow in the veins and is the most accurate test for leg DVT.
Treatment is built on anticoagulants. Most patients take a blood thinner by mouth for at least 3 months, and often 3 to 6, with longer treatment for unprovoked or recurring clots. Warfarin requires regular blood tests, while newer oral drugs do not. CDC notes compression stockings may be worn for 2 years or more to ease pain and swelling, and in severe cases the clot may need to be removed. Blood thinners do not dissolve the clot, so the body clears it over time.
Blood Clot Risk Factors in the US 2026: Hospital Stays and Preventable Clots
HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED CLOT SHARES (1 block = 2%)
VTE linked to hospitalization, CDC now | █████████████████ over 33%
Healthcare-associated share, older CDC | █████████████████████████ 50%
Preventable share of those clots | ███████████████████████████████████ up to 70%
| Risk Factor | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Recent hospitalization | More than 33% of VTE cases |
| Healthcare-associated VTE (older CDC estimate) | About 50% of clots |
| Preventable healthcare-associated clots | As many as 70% |
| Pre-existing conditions in hospital | About 3 times the risk |
| Cancer | Clots are a leading cause of death after the cancer itself |
| Surgery | Hip or knee replacement raises risk |
| Immobility and central lines | Listed by CDC as risk factors |
Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism; CDC, Healthcare-Associated Blood Clots; CDC Grand Rounds, MMWR, 2014.
Hospital stays are the most modifiable risk. CDC says more than 33% of VTE cases are related to a recent hospitalization and most of them occur after discharge, and its older infographic put the healthcare-associated share at 50%. As many as 70% of those clots are preventable, using early movement, compression devices and preventive blood thinners given at the right time. Hospital costs from these clots exceed $5 billion a year by CDC’s estimate.
Not every clot has a clear cause. Between 25% and 40% of DVT and PE cases show no identifiable provoking factor, according to a clinical review, Cancer raises risk and worsens survival, with clots among the leading causes of death in people with cancer. Immobility, central venous lines and certain pre-existing conditions such as heart failure, obesity and kidney failure each raise the odds of a clot.
Blood Clot Complications in the US 2026: Recurrence and Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AFTER A CLOT (1 block = 2%)
Post-thrombotic syndrome (high end) | █████████████████████████ up to 50%
Recurrence within 10 years | ████████████████ about 33%
Post-thrombotic syndrome (low end) | ███████████████ 30%
Recurrence within 5 years (high end) | ███████████████ up to 30%
| Complication | Rate |
|---|---|
| Recurrence within 10 years | About 33% (3 in 10) |
| Recurrence within 5 years | 10%–30% |
| Post-thrombotic syndrome after DVT | 30%–50% |
| Recurrence if blood thinners stop (per year) | 7%–11% |
| Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension | A complication after PE with a large clot |
Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism; CDC Grand Rounds, MMWR, 2014; Stop the Clot clinical summary.
Many patients live with the aftermath. Between 30% and 50% of DVT patients develop post-thrombotic syndrome, which brings swelling, pain, discoloration and, in severe cases, leg ulcers, and CDC says one third to one half have long-term complications. In severe cases the symptoms can be disabling. Recurrence is common: about 33% of patients have another clot within 10 years, and 10% to 30% do within 5.
Stopping treatment carries its own risk. If anticoagulants are stopped after 3, 6, 12 or 24 months, DVT or PE recurs at 7% to 11% a year. A PE with a large clot can also lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a lung-pressure condition. Patients with recurrent or unprovoked clots are often advised to take blood thinners longer, which is a decision made with a clinician after weighing bleeding risk.
Blood Clot Treatment Research in 2026: Factor XI Inhibitors and Setbacks
DVT AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT, PHASE 2 (1 block = 1%)
Enoxaparin | ██████████████████████████████ about 30%
Highest milvexian dose | ████████████ about 12%
| Development | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Abelacimab, cancer-associated VTE | Novartis stopped phase 3 ASTER and MAGNOLIA trials |
| Abelacimab, phase 2, knee surgery | VTE reduced by 80% versus enoxaparin |
| Milvexian, phase 2 knee replacement | Asymptomatic DVT about 12% at top dose vs about 30% for enoxaparin |
| Milvexian, acute coronary syndrome | LIBREXIA-ACS stopped for futility |
| Asundexian | FDA decision on secondary stroke prevention expected November 2026 |
| Asundexian, stroke trial | Stroke 6.2% vs 8.4% on placebo; major bleeding 1.9% vs 1.7% |
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology and Immunology reviews, 2026; Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2026; Endocrinology Advisor, October 2026; VCBeat, 2026.
The hoped-for successor to today’s blood thinners hit a setback. Factor XI inhibitors target the clotting pathway with less effect on normal bleeding, and phase 2 results were striking: milvexian cut DVT after knee replacement to about 12% from about 30% with enoxaparin, and abelacimab cut VTE by 80%. But in 2026 Novartis stopped its two phase 3 trials of abelacimab in cancer-associated clots, reportedly after the larger trial showed the drug was less effective than apixaban.
The approvals ahead are not for leg clots. The FDA granted priority review to asundexian for secondary stroke prevention, with a decision expected in November 2026, after the trial showed stroke in 6.2% of patients against 8.4% on placebo, with similar major bleeding of 1.9% and 1.7%. For people with a leg DVT today, the standard remains established oral blood thinners, and none of the Factor XI inhibitors in the sources reviewed is approved for VTE.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blood Clot Statistics in the US 2026
How many Americans get blood clots each year?
CDC says up to 900,000 people are affected by venous thromboembolism each year, with a range of 350,000 to 900,000.
How many people die from blood clots in the US?
An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die of VTE each year, according to CDC.
What is the difference between DVT and PE?
A DVT is a clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg. A PE occurs when a piece of that clot travels to the lungs.
What are the symptoms of a leg DVT?
Swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth and redness in one leg. About 50% of people with DVT have no symptoms.
How is a DVT diagnosed?
Doctors assess probability, then use a D-dimer blood test (below 500 ng/mL rules DVT out when probability is low) and duplex ultrasound.
How is DVT treated?
With anticoagulant blood thinners for at least 3 months, often 3 to 6, plus compression stockings that may be worn 2 years or more.
How many people with PE die suddenly?
CDC says sudden death is the first symptom in about 25% of people who have a PE.
Are blood clots related to hospital stays?
Yes. More than 33% of VTE cases are related to a recent hospitalization, most appearing after discharge, and up to 70% of healthcare-associated clots are preventable.
How likely is a second blood clot?
About 33% of people with VTE have another within 10 years, and 30% to 50% of DVT patients develop post-thrombotic syndrome.
Who is most at risk for blood clots?
Older adults, hospitalized patients, people with cancer, after surgery such as hip or knee replacement, and people with limited mobility or central lines.
What did Novartis stop in 2026?
Its two phase 3 trials of abelacimab in cancer-associated blood clots, reportedly after the larger trial showed the drug was less effective than apixaban.
How much do blood clots cost the US?
CDC estimates up to $10 billion a year, with healthcare-associated clots costing more than $5 billion.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.