Results of the national pilot screening program for venous disease by the American Venous Forum.
OBJECTIVE
This report describes the pilot of a free comprehensive national screening program for venous disease.


METHODS
The screening process consisted of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, abbreviated duplex examination for venous obstruction and reflux, inspection for signs of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and an exit interview. Physicians coordinating the screenings were members of the American Venous Forum.


RESULTS
Seventeen institutions screened 476 people (mean, 28 per site; range, 6 to 71). Mean age was 60 years (range, 40 to 91 years), with 78% women and 68% with a body mass index of > or =25. If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 22 participants (5%) were low risk, 87 (18%) were moderate risk, 186 (39%) were high risk, and 179 (38%) were at very high risk. In 26 people (6%), one or more segments had venous obstruction, and 190 (40%) had one or more segments of venous reflux in the lower extremities. Varicose veins were present in 32%, edema without skin changes in 11%, skin changes attributable to venous disease in 8%, and healed or active venous stasis ulcer in 1.3% (CEAP classification 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively). Increasing age and increasing deep venous thrombosis risk score significantly correlated with increasing clinical classification, r = 0.09, P = .04, and r = 0.16, P = .0004, respectively. Those participants with reflux in one or more segments were significantly more likely to have a higher clinical classification compared with those with no reflux (P = .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The first comprehensive national screening for venous disease was performed. Participants were informed of their risk for VTE if placed in a situation conducive to VTE, screened for evidence of obstruction, reflux, and CVI, and empowered to share their results with their primary care provider.
McLafferty
Robert B
RB
Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL 62794-0741, USA. rmclafferty@siumed.edu
Lohr
Joanne M
JM
Caprini
Joseph A
JA
Passman
Marc A
MA
Padberg
Frank T
FT
Rooke
Thom W
TW
Bush
Ruth L
RL
Zakaria
Aamir A
AA
Flinn
William R
WR
Eklof
Bo G
BG
Dalsing
Michael C
MC
Markwell
Steven J
SJ
Wakefield
Thomas W
TW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology