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Educating America About Venous Disease: The American Venous Forum Expands The National Venous Screening Program

Robert B McLafferty¹, Marc A. Passman², Joseph A. Caprini³, Thom W. Rooke⁴, Thomas W. Wakefield⁵, William R. Flinn⁶, Mark Meissner⁷, Joanne M. Lohr⁸, Michael C. Dalsing.^9
1Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL; ²University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL; ³Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; ⁴Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; ⁵University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; ⁶University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; ⁷University of Washington, Seattle, WA; ⁸Lohr Surgical Specialists, Cincinnati, OH; ⁹Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.

OBJECTIVES: To present the results of an expanded National Venous Screening Program (NVSP) as administered by the American Venous Forum.

METHODS: Incoming data and entry continues from the November 2006 NVSP. 158 centers across 43 states received screening materials and are estimated to have educated and screened ~ 4000 individuals. The NVSP instrument includes: demographics; VTE risk and venous-specific QOL assessment; abbreviated duplex for reflux and obstruction; clinical inspection. Participants receive educational materials and a report card for their PCP.

RESULTS: To date, 1185 participants are entered from 56 centers. Demographic data include: mean age 60 (range 23 - 91); 76% female; 82% Caucasian; 44% with BMI ≥ 25; 38% current or previous smoker; 21% taking antiplatelet therapy; 6% taking warfarin. First and second reasons to attend a NVSP were no cost (60%) and varicose veins (42%). If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 8% participants were low risk, 35% were moderate risk, 33% were high risk, and 24% were at very high risk. On QOL assessment, 17% had a combined total score for all 11 questions of “very limited” or “impossible to do.” Table denotes percent reflux and obstruction. CEAP class 0 - 6 was 29%, 19%, 28% 13%, 9%, 1%, 0.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The dramatic increase in the number of centers (from 17 to 158) volunteering to perform the second annual NSVP underscores the nation’s interest in educating individuals about the devastating effects of venous disease. Venous disease prevalence in a larger screened population continues to be high. A final summary and more detailed statistical analysis will be available for the 2007 SVS meeting following completion of ongoing data entry.