TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing awareness about venous disease
T2 - The American Venous Forum expands the National Venous Screening Program
AU - McLafferty, Robert B.
AU - Passman, Marc A.
AU - Caprini, Joseph A.
AU - Rooke, Thom W.
AU - Markwell, Steven A.
AU - Lohr, Joanne M.
AU - Meissner, Mark H.
AU - Eklöf, Bo G.
AU - Wakefield, Thomas W.
AU - Dalsing, Michael C.
N1 - Funding Information:
Physicians targeted for participation in the NVSP were members of one of three medical societies: the American Venous Forum, the Society for Vascular Surgery, and the American College of Phlebology. Membership mailing lists were given to the NVSP committee for the sole purpose of inviting physicians to participate. Mailings for invitations to participate and “save the dates” were distributed by electronic mail in August 2006. National Venous Screening Week was designated from November 6-11, 2006. Physicians desiring to participate in the NVSP were not limited to only that time; they could perform a screening during the following 4 months. Instructional and educational materials needed to perform the NVSP were provided to physicians and the public for free. Funding for the NVSP was through grants from Juzo Corporation (Cleveland, Ohio) and Sanofi-Aventis (Bridgewater, NJ). Materials given to physicians and the public had no associated industry labeling or advertising.
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Objective: To evaluate the results of the expanded National Venous Screening Program (NVSP) as administered by the American Venous Forum. Methods: Eighty-three physicians across 40 states participated in screening Americans for venous disease. The NVSP instrument included demographics, venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, quality-of-life (QOL) assessment, duplex ultrasound scan for reflux and obstruction, and clinical inspection. Participants received educational materials and a report card to give their physician. Results: A total of 2234 individuals underwent screening (mean, 26 people/site; range, 4-42). Demographic data observed included mean age of 60 years (range, 17-93 years); 77% female; 80% Caucasian; mean BMI of 29 (range, 11-68); 40% current or previous smoker; and 24% taking antiplatelet therapy and 4% taking warfarin. If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 40% of participants were low risk, 22% were moderate risk, 21% were high risk, and 17% were very high risk. On a venous QOL assessment, 17% had a combined total score for all 11 questions of "very limited" or "impossible to do." Reflux or obstruction was noted in 37% and 5% of participants, respectively. CEAP class 0 to 6 was 29%, 29%, 23%, 10%, 9%, 1.5%, 0.5%, respectively. Discussion: Despite a dramatic expansion in the second annual NSVP (from 17 to 83 centers), the presence of venous disease observed in a larger screened population continues to be high. The NVSP represents one pathway to increasing public awareness about venous disease.
AB - Objective: To evaluate the results of the expanded National Venous Screening Program (NVSP) as administered by the American Venous Forum. Methods: Eighty-three physicians across 40 states participated in screening Americans for venous disease. The NVSP instrument included demographics, venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, quality-of-life (QOL) assessment, duplex ultrasound scan for reflux and obstruction, and clinical inspection. Participants received educational materials and a report card to give their physician. Results: A total of 2234 individuals underwent screening (mean, 26 people/site; range, 4-42). Demographic data observed included mean age of 60 years (range, 17-93 years); 77% female; 80% Caucasian; mean BMI of 29 (range, 11-68); 40% current or previous smoker; and 24% taking antiplatelet therapy and 4% taking warfarin. If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 40% of participants were low risk, 22% were moderate risk, 21% were high risk, and 17% were very high risk. On a venous QOL assessment, 17% had a combined total score for all 11 questions of "very limited" or "impossible to do." Reflux or obstruction was noted in 37% and 5% of participants, respectively. CEAP class 0 to 6 was 29%, 29%, 23%, 10%, 9%, 1.5%, 0.5%, respectively. Discussion: Despite a dramatic expansion in the second annual NSVP (from 17 to 83 centers), the presence of venous disease observed in a larger screened population continues to be high. The NVSP represents one pathway to increasing public awareness about venous disease.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jvs.2008.03.041
DO - 10.1016/j.jvs.2008.03.041
M3 - Article
C2 - 18572373
AN - SCOPUS:47249116467
VL - 48
SP - 394
EP - 399
JO - Journal of Vascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Vascular Surgery
SN - 0741-5214
IS - 2
ER -