Surgeon General issues call to action for DVT and PE risk

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, issued a call to action yesterday concerning deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism risk, to encourage public awareness and increased research on the causes, prevention and treatment of these conditions.

“The good news about these conditions is that they are preventable and treatable. So this call to action today marks another step forward in a process the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been following toward increased public awareness of the human cost and economic cost,” Galson said yesterday at a press conference in Washington.

The report, “The Surgeons’ Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism 2008,” was developed by HSS officials over a two-year period that began with a May 2006 workshop, he said.

In the 43-page call to action document, the officials discuss the risk factors for the conditions and evidence-based treatment practices. According to Galson, the document also provides an update on current research and lists actions the public and health care community can take to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

“We know that together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism contribute to at least 100,000 deaths in America every year,” and affect between 350,000 and 600,000 individuals in the United States annually, Galson said.

According to Galson, those at risk for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism include anyone aged 50 years or older, as well as obese patients, smokers and those with genetic factors. Women taking hormone therapy or birth control are also at risk.

In a press release, the American Society of Hematology applauded the call to action. The society also said it is encouraging Congress to support the development of a national thrombosis surveillance system at the CDC to collect more accurate data and to evaluate whether national programs are influencing the disease burden of these conditions.

Galson also announced the release of two documents developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to further educate the public and health care providers about deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. One of the documents, targeted to physicians, describes a coordinated strategy for working together to care for and treat patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. – by Susan Rapp

For more information:

The Call to Action can be found at www.surgeongeneral.gov. Free copies of the AHRQ guides can be obtained by calling 800-358-9295 or by emailing ahrqpubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.