Too few patients receive post-discharge therapy after hip or knee-replacement surgery, increasing the risk of life-threatening venous thrombosis, according to a new report.

Findings published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicate that venous thrombosis is one of the most common causes of death in hospital patients, despite the fact that elderly patients are 70 per cent less likely of dying within three months if administered an anticoagulant.

The researchers stated: "Compared with patients who did not receive thromboprophylaxis after discharge, those who received thromboprophylaxis after discharge were at lower risk of short-term mortality.

"Expert consensus guidelines recommend that patients receive thromboprophylaxis for at least ten days after knee-replacement surgery and from ten to 35 days following hip-replacement surgery."

The study investigated 10,000 people in Quebec over the age of 60. The condition is most common in people of this age bracket. It found that only one in five patients received therapy to prevent blood clotting.