{"id":726,"date":"2017-02-27T14:58:53","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T14:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uchealth.com\/cardiovascular-insights\/?p=726"},"modified":"2017-02-27T14:58:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-27T14:58:53","slug":"changing-the-leading-cause-of-death-throughout-the-world-vte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.com\/cardiovascular-insights\/changing-the-leading-cause-of-death-throughout-the-world-vte\/","title":{"rendered":"Working to Change the Leading Cause of Death Throughout the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, approximately 10 million people worldwide, including 600,000 Americans, suffer from venous thromboembolism (VTE),1<\/sup> and at least one in 12 middle-aged American adults will develop VTE in their remaining lifetime,2<\/sup> says Richard C. Becker, MD<\/a>. These statistics are part of the impetus for a national awareness effort\u2014World Thrombosis Day<\/a> (WTD), which is designed to raise awareness among clinicians and the lay community about thrombosis as the proximate cause of venous thromboembolism, heart attack and stroke.3<\/sup> The drive is necessary, Dr. Becker says, because \u201cVTE rates in the United States have not decreased in the past two to three decades. In fact, there has been an increase as the population ages.4<\/sup> It is tempting to think that we, the scientific and medical communities, have \u2018cured\u2019 thrombosis; however, the humbling reality is that we have merely scratched the surface.\u201d Dr. Becker, a cardiologist with University of Cincinnati Medical Center<\/a> (UC Medical Center), director, University of Cincinnati (UC) Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute<\/a>, and director, division of cardiovascular health and diseases<\/a> at UC, has long been involved in the study of thrombosis as a principal and co-principal investigator for clinical and translational investigations of thrombosis, hemostasis, vascular biology and pharmacogenetics. A much-published author, Dr. Becker is also the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Becker, \u201cthe most life-altering and life-threatening complication of VTE is acute pulmonary embolism, with three near- and long-term complications, including recurring VTE. Post-thrombotic syndrome, a condition with no known treatment, that causes pain, swelling and skin ulcers, can last for years after a first or second VTE. A final potential complication can be pulmonary hypertension due to recurring pulmonary embolism.\u201d5<\/sup><\/p>\n

Physicians can improve their ability to diagnose VTE, says Dr. Becker. \u201cAwareness of predisposing factors such as underlying cancer, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, inactivity particularly after surgery or injury, family history of VTE, smoking and obesity, as well as recognizing signs and symptoms of VTE, are key to early diagnosis and effective treatment,\u201d he says. In considering a diagnosis of VTE, it is important to be aware of common signs and symptoms including pain, redness and swelling of the legs, and in less common cases, the arms.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

Dr. Becker points out that VTE is \u201cmore common among African Americans than other races.\u201d6<\/sup> The likelihood of death and complications from VTE is also higher in this population. Additionally, women have several unique risk factors for VTE.7, 8<\/sup> These include pregnancy and the early post-partum period, the use of oral contraceptive agents or hormone replacement therapy and cancers involving breast, uterus and ovaries.<\/p>\n

At UC Medical Center, care providers are committed to raising thrombosis awareness within the pre- and post- hospital environment as well as bringing awareness to the Tri-State region. Dr. Becker said that \u201csystems of care\u201d to properly prevent, diagnose and treat VTE and atrial fibrillation (AFib) \u2013 an objective in the 2016 WTD Impact Report<\/a> \u2013 are operational at UC Medical Center. \u201cOptimal patient care is the result of knowledge, expertise and resource availability. In the case of common conditions and diseases such as AFib and VTE, we have developed awareness and prevention strategies that can be applied broadly across the system of care according to specific patient needs. We also have established clinical programs specific to AFib and VTE which include physicians, nurses and advanced practice providers who are trained in these areas and are highly skilled in the diagnosis and on-going safe and effective management of patients with VTE and AFib.\u201d Dr. Becker stresses that \u201cthrombosis is seen in all areas of medicine. It is, in many instances, preventable, diagnosable and readily treatable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hear from a UC Medical Center patient about her struggles with VTE.<\/p>\n