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Surgeon General Calls for Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
SeniorJournal.Com
September 15, 2008
Two guides to help seniors and other consumers, clinicians issued by AHRQ
A campaign spearheaded by the U.S. surgeon general kicked off today with the goal of reducing the number of cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, killers of over 100,000 people each year in the
U.S. Many of those who die are senior citizens. The Call to Action urges a coordinated, multifaceted plan.
The plan by Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., emphasizes the need for:
● Increased awareness about deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
● Evidence-based practices for deep vein thrombosis.
● More research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of deep vein
thrombosis
.
Galson urged all Americans to learn about and prevent these treatable conditions.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 Americans each year, and the numbers are expected to increase as the U.S. population ages. Together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year.
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the lower leg or thigh. The clot can block blood flow and cause pain, swelling, and skin discoloration.
In the most serious cases, deep vein thrombosis can lead to a pulmonary embolism - when part of the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it can block a lung artery, causing damage to the lungs or other organs from lack of oxygen.
"Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms are often 'silent' conditions - they can occur suddenly and without symptoms," Galson said. "But we have made a lot of progress in understanding how these disorders develop and how to prevent, diagnose, and treat them. It's time to put this knowledge into action."
Researchers have found that in most cases, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism develops in people who have an inherited blood clotting disorder or other risk factor, and who experience a triggering event.
"Being hospitalized or confined to bed rest, having major surgery, suffering a trauma, or traveling for several hours can increase a person’s risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism," Galson said. “We want to increase the awareness and knowledge of these potentially deadly conditions and encourage patients and health care providers to take the steps to prevent them."
The Call to Action resulted from a Surgeon General’s Workshop on Deep Vein Thrombosis which was convened in May 2006. The workshop was co-sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
"Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are major public health problems, and NHLBI is committed to continuing to support important basic and clinical research to advance our understanding of these disabling and potentially fatal conditions," NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., noted.
"Research is shedding light on genetic factors and the role of triggering events, behaviors, and conditions that increase the risk of developing dangerous blood clots. It is imperative that clinicians and public health experts work together to translate this scientific evidence to save lives."
Two New Guides to Help Consumers and Clinicians Prevent Dangerous Blood Clots Issued by AHRQ
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) contributed to the Call to Action with the release of two new guides — one for patients and another for health care providers — on how to prevent dangerous blood clots.
“Fighting deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is a team effort that involves health care providers and patients,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
Not all blood clots are harmful but deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, most commonly in the lower leg or thigh, is a potentially deadly medical problem that affects at least 350,000 and possibly as many as 600,000 Americans each year, according to The Surgeon General’s Call to Action.
AHRQ’s news release says its resources are independent of the Call to Action.
AHRQ’s consumer booklet, Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots, is a 12-page easy-to-read resource that helps both patients and their families identify the causes and symptoms of dangerous blood clots, learn tips on how to prevent them and know what to expect during treatment.
The clinician guide, Preventing Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Guide for Effective Quality Improvement, is a comprehensive tool to help hospitals and clinicians implement processes to prevent dangerous blood clots.
The 60-page guide details how to start, implement, evaluate and sustain a quality improvement strategy. It includes case studies, as well as examples of forms that clinicians in the field can use.
“Blood clots can be a serious condition affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans each year,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. “We know how to prevent many of these dangerous blood clots, and these guides will help patients and clinicians put that knowledge to work to improve care.”
Dangerous blood clots can form when a person is stationary for a long period of time, such as when recovering from surgery, being hospitalized or traveling long distances. A blood clot that travels to the lung is called a pulmonary embolism.
“These timely, easy-to-read guides provide valuable information on preventing and treating dangerous blood clots,” said Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. “They are also valuable tools for health care providers to use with their patients who are at risk for dangerous blood clots.”
The AHRQ guides were developed from toolkits originally created by experts funded through AHRQ’s Partnerships in Implementing Patient Safety grant program
.
The consumer guide, Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots, is based on work by Brenda Zierler, Ph.D., R.N. at the University of Washington, Seattle. It is available in both English and Spanish The clinician guide, Preventing Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Guide for Effective Quality Improvement, reflects the work of Gregory Maynard, M.D., at the University of California, San Diego, with contributions from Jason Stein, M.D., at Emory University in Atlanta.
Treatment for blood clots often includes blood thinning medications such as Coumadin® (generic name: warfarin). AHRQ recently published Your Guide to Coumadin®/Warfarin Therapy to help these patients better understand their treatment. This guide also originated from an AHRQ-funded patient safety project and is based on the work of James Levett, M.D. and Carla Huber, A.R.N.P., M.S., at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Free, single copies of all AHRQ publications are available by calling the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at (800) 358-9295 or by sending an e-mail to
AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov
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