Improving Outcomes for Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

Female doctor visiting her elderly patient at her house for medical check

Podcasts: VTE

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Recommended Treatment Duration

Experts discuss how to approach decision-making regarding the duration of anticoagulation therapy considering the clinical presentation of the patient, and more.
Recommended Treatment Duration

Safe & Effective Use Anticoagulation

Experts identify and apply current best evidence, including from contemporary clinical studies and practice guidelines on how to use anticoagulants safely and effectively when managing patients with VTE.
Safe & Effective Use Anticoagulation

Directed Treatment of VTE

Listen and learn to recognize the circumstances when certain anticoagulant classes are preferred in select situations such as VTE among patients with cancer and other conditions.
Directed Guideline of VTE

Optimizing the Diagnosis & Treatment

Experts address the need for clinicians to be proactive in their identification, diagnosis, and management of VTE patients so they can recognize, treat, follow-up and or refer VTE patients as appropriate.
Optimizing the Diagnosis & Treatment

Multidisciplinary Teams in Treatment

Experts discuss the central role of patient adherence and multidisciplinary team management in optimizing outcomes among patients with VTE.
Multidisciplinary Teams in Treatment

HeartBEATS from Lifelong Learning™

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Guidelines and Articles

Prevalence and Lack of Awareness

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to a blood clot that starts in a vein. It is the third leading vascular diagnosis after heart attack and stroke. There are two types: 1) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg; 2.) Pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal, occurs when a DVT clot breaks free from a vein wall, travels to the lungs and then blocks some or all of the blood supply. About two-thirds of patients with VTE present with DVT only. The remaining present with PE as the first manifestation and primary cause of VTE-related mortality. Patient awareness of the risk of VTE associated with hospitalization is low.
  • In a large global survey conducted in 2014, the proportions of respondents who were aware of thrombosis, DVT, and PE (68%, 44%, and 54%, respectively) were lower than the proportions who were aware of other thrombotic disorders such as heart attack and stroke (88% and 85%, respectively).
  • Fewer than half of respondents were aware that blood clots were preventable, and awareness that conditions such as cancer, hospitalization, and surgery were associated with risk was quite low (16%, 25%, and 36%, respectively).
This lack of awareness is not the result of a lack of interest on the part of patients or their families. A survey of patients and families found that participants wanted to learn about VTE symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and complications, preferring to receive education in the context of a doctor-patient encounter.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer Alliance.