The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) increases with age and it has been reported to be higher in males. The annual incidence rates per 1000 for DVT and PE are 1.3 and 1.8 respectively for people aged between 65 and 69 years, rising to 2.8 and 3.1 respectively in those aged between 85 and 89 years. Older people are about eight times more likely to develop venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitals, nursing homes or other chronic care facilities. About 1.7% develop PE and 8% develop recurrent PE within one year of treatment for DVT. About 3% of patients with DVT and 21% of those with PE die in hospital. One year mortality with DVT is 21% and that with PE is 39%. The diagnosis of PE is often missed in older people and it is often detected only at postmortem.