Hypercoagulable states are disorders of hemostasis that are associated with hyperactivity of the coagulation system and with the development of thromboembolic events, a pathology known as Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

Although abundant epidemiological information on VTE is available, it should be analyzed with caution. Although this information is adequate to measure the importance of the pathology and its risks, the existing data do not accurately measure the problem and we could be looking at the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps the most accurate estimate comes from a study carried out in Sweden, where 23,796 autopsies were performed on a total of 35,784 deaths that occurred during 1970 and 1982, and the prevalence of VTE was 22.8%.