PLAN NOW FOR DVT AWARENESS MONTH

March is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)Awareness Month, a multifaceted campaignaimed at raising awarenessamong patients, health care professionals,and policy makers about DVT andpulmonary embolism (PE) on a nationaland local level. The Coalition to PreventDVT has spearheaded DVT AwarenessMonth efforts since its launch in March2003. According to the American HeartAssociation, almost 2 million Americansare affected annually by DVT. Of thosewho develop PE, up to 200,000 will dieeach year.

Despite these statistics, a nationalsurvey sponsored by the AmericanPublic Health Association showed that74% of Americans have little or no awarenessof DVT. Despite the presence ofmultiple risk factors and overwhelmingdata that prophylaxis is very effectiveat reducing these events, 58% of patientswho developed a DVT while inthe hospital received no preventivetreatment.

Pharmacists are encouraged to takethe time to make their patients awareof the risk factors for and symptoms ofDVT and PE. For more information visitwww.preventdvt.org.

Dr. Garrett is a clinical pharmacistpractitioner at Cornerstone HealthCare in High Point, NC.