Increased risk of venous thromboembolism in children and teenagers with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is well known, but we know less about the VTE risk of IBD in children and teenagers. We evaluated the risk of VTE in children and teenagers through systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science for studies from the establishment of these databases to February 10, 2026, to find relevant research on the risk of VTE in children and teenagers with IBD (PROSPERO, ID: CRD420251081653). Random-effects and fixed-effects models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: = 0.001). Conclusions: Children and teenagers with IBD are at a significantly increased risk of developing VTE. Therefore, VTE prevention strategies should be emphasized in this population as well as in adults.