A group of doctors from various specialities said that deep vein thrombosis (DVT) kills more people than AIDS, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc in the world.
Based on the findings of the Prospective Registry On Venous thromboembolic Events (PROVE) study in support of their claim, the doctors said DVT is a major killer in the hospitals today. The study also found that this killer disease can be reduced from 30 per cent to 8 per cent if treated appropriately.
DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins, usually in the legs. This condition can be fatal if a part of the clot breaks off and blocks blood vessels in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary embolism. DVT is a common disease and claims more lives than AIDS/ HIV, breast cancer, prostate cancer and road accidents combined. However, it is a lesser-known disease because of low awareness and the myth that DVT does not affect the Indian population as it does the western population.
The symptoms of DVT are rarely recognisable and often go undetected. Almost 50-60 per cent of DVT cases don't show any visible symptoms and hence is commonly referred to as the 'silent killer'. Pulmonary embolism is responsible for about 5-10 per cent of all 'in-hospital' deaths, the study said.
The PROVE registry is a multinational, multi centre, observational study, involving 254 centres in 19 countries including India. The objective of the study was to understand the type of thromboprophylaxis (preventive care) received by patients. The PROVE study establishes that while patients in India have similar clinical risk profiles as compared to the rest of the population (19 countries), fewer patients received prior thromboprophylaxis (preventive care).
As part of the PROVE investigation team, Dr R K Pinjala, Professor and HOD, Vascular Surgery, Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, speaking on the challenges said, "In the Western countries, Venous Thromboembolism is well documented and proved to be a major health concern. Therefore, in many major surgeries, especially orthopaedic surgery, prophylaxis for DVT is now routine. In contrast, the Indian scenario is such that many believe the incidence of DVT in patients is low, and thrombo-prophylaxis is not routine in even high risk patients. More alarming is the low penetration of thrornboprophylactic agents even in tertiary care institutions".
Dr Agarwala chief of Surgery, head - Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hinduja Hospital, said, DVT is a preventable disease if adequate precautions are exercised. The incidence of the disease is the same in India as in the Caucasions.
Dr Abhay Bhave, MD. FRCPA, Consultant Haematologist, Lilavati Hospital said, " Decision-makers and stakeholders in the healthcare sector should be made aware of DVT and its complications, one of which could be life threatening such as pulmonary embolism.
Certain individuals may be at increased risk for developing DVT, however the condition is preventable. Some of the risk factors are: restricted mobility (especially post operations or long flights), cancer, infectious diseases, certain heart or respiratory diseases, major surgery such as hip or knee replacements, advanced age, oral contraceptives or hormone therapy. In spite of the lives it claims, DVT is effectively preventable and treatable with the use of therapies such as thromboprophylaxis (blood thinning drugs), as well as the use of mechanical devices. Guidelines and practices on managing venous thromboembolism should also be put in place at the hospital and doctors level.