Increasing awareness about venous disease: The American Venous Forum expands the National Venous Screening Program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of the expanded National Venous Screening Program (NVSP) as administered by the American Venous Forum.


METHODS
Eighty-three physicians across 40 states participated in screening Americans for venous disease. The NVSP instrument included demographics, venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, quality-of-life (QOL) assessment, duplex ultrasound scan for reflux and obstruction, and clinical inspection. Participants received educational materials and a report card to give their physician.


RESULTS
A total of 2234 individuals underwent screening (mean, 26 people/site; range, 4-42). Demographic data observed included mean age of 60 years (range, 17-93 years); 77% female; 80% Caucasian; mean BMI of 29 (range, 11-68); 40% current or previous smoker; and 24% taking antiplatelet therapy and 4% taking warfarin. If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 40% of participants were low risk, 22% were moderate risk, 21% were high risk, and 17% were very high risk. On a venous QOL assessment, 17% had a combined total score for all 11 questions of "very limited" or "impossible to do." Reflux or obstruction was noted in 37% and 5% of participants, respectively. CEAP class 0 to 6 was 29%, 29%, 23%, 10%, 9%, 1.5%, 0.5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a dramatic expansion in the second annual NSVP (from 17 to 83 centers), the presence of venous disease observed in a larger screened population continues to be high. The NVSP represents one pathway to increasing public awareness about venous disease.
Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Ill, USA. rmclafferty@siumed.edu
Robert B
RB
McLafferty
Marc A
MA
Passman
Joseph A
JA
Caprini
Thom W
TW
Rooke
Steven A
SA
Markwell
Joanne M
JM
Lohr
Mark H
MH
Meissner
Bo G
BG
Eklöf
Thomas W
TW
Wakefield
Michael C
MC
Dalsing
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012955:Societies, Medical; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*