World Thrombosis Day (WTD), being celebrated on Monday, aims to raise awareness of the largely preventable disease as a comprehensive science review and a public survey reveal large gaps in public’s knowledge.
While the world’s top two cardiovascular killers – heart attack and stroke – are global health priorities, the number-three killer, venous thromboembolism (VTE) or blood clots in the leg and lungs, has remained largely unaddressed and under-recognised by the public, according to the most comprehensive scientific review of the global burden of VTE ever undertaken and a global public survey.
To address this disconnect, the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) is leading a global effort together with more than 175 health and patient organisations around the world to launch World Thrombosis Day. This initial focus is on increasing public and health professionals’ awareness of potentially deadly blood clots in the leg and lungs, the risk factors, symptoms and the importance of prevention.
“The lack of attention over decades to this largely preventable disease amounts to an unrecognised crisis that we must start addressing immediately,” said Gary Raskob, corresponding author of the scientific review, dean of the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Centre and chairman of the WTD Steering Committee. “It is clear from our review that VTE is a major contributor to global disease burden. We must work together to increase awareness at all levels − personal, healthcare systems and providers, and ultimately policymakers − and to do a better job of prevention.”
The review found that VTE is a major contributor to the glo-bal disease burden across high-, middle- and low-income regions, with overall incidence ranging from 0.75 to 2.7 cases per 1,000 people.
VTE was the leading cause of premature death and disability among the causes of hospital-associated adverse events evaluated by the WHO patient safety programme. Its prevention must be a global health priority, specifically the systematic and consistent use of proven, evidence-based preventive measures against VTE.
This should be a priority for healthcare providers and health systems as VTE is largely preventable. Simultaneously, the public must be made aware of the disease and how to prevent it − and they must be encouraged to be proactive about talking about it with their healthcare providers.
A survey was conducted this summer among men and women in nine countries. It was conducted on behalf of ISTH by the global research firm Ipsos, found that among adults, an average of only about 50 per cent were aware of, or had ever heard of the term pulmonary embolism and 44 per cent were aware of or had heard the term deep vein thrombosis.
“Too few people know about blood clots in the leg and lungs and their life-threatening consequences − and too many people are dying a preventable death,” said Raskob.
“It is critical for people to know the risk factors, be proactive − talk to your doctor about your risk and ask about preventing blood clots, especially if you are admitted to a hospital or are having surgery; and know the symptoms and signs of a deep-vein thrombosis and of a pulmonary embolism and seek medical attention promptly if you experience them.”
The review is published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and four other leading thrombosis journals simultaneously worldwide.