October 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Daiichi Sankyo is proud
to partner with World
Thrombosis Day to promote vital global awareness of thrombosis, its
causes, risk factors, and signs and symptoms. Thrombosis is the formation of
potentially deadly blood clots in the vein (venous thrombosis) - resulting in
venous thromboembolism (VTE) - or the artery (arterial thrombosis)-
a major cause of stroke in those with atrial fibrillation (AF).
VTE is the collective term for deep vein thrombosis
(DVT), where clots form in deep veins such as in the leg, and pulmonary
embolism (PE), where a clot breaks off and travels up to the lungs.
It
is the leading cause of preventable death in hospitals.[4] Despite
this, VTE is associated with over 370,000 deaths every year in the EU alone,[5] so
people need to be aware and 'think VTE' if they or a loved one need to spend
time in hospital.
Commenting on today's initiative, Dr.
Harry R. Büller, Professor of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical
Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, said, "Today we're calling
on healthcare professionals and policy makers to prioritise the
implementation of VTE risk assessments to help reduce the threat posed by this
disease. We're also calling for greater public awareness and knowledge of the
signs and symptoms of VTE in order to empower individuals to act quickly to
seek medical attention. The World Thrombosis Day campaign can play a key part
in helping to reduce the mortality associated with VTE."
VTE risk assessments have been shown to significantly
reduce mortality. A routine risk assessment should be
conducted by a doctor or nurse on all surgical and medical patients with
reduced mobility.
Risk factors such as a history of blood
clots, obesity, previous surgery, pregnancy and use of contraceptive pills
should also be accounted for in the assessment. Presence of
one or more of these factors may indicate the need for anticoagulant medicine,
provided the patient is not at risk of bleeding.
Arterial thrombosis can occur as a result of AF, in
which the heartbeat is rapid and irregular.With an
irregular heartbeat, blood flow may slow or pool and cause the formation of a
clot; if the clot breaks free, it can lodge in an artery, travel to the brain
and result in a stroke. Thus all AF patients should be
assessed for their risk of stroke.
Up to 20% of people with AF experience no symptoms,[11] particularly
if their heart rate is not that fast.
As such, many patients
are not diagnosed early enough and an acute stroke is a common first
presentation of AF.
A simple pulse check can quickly
indicate the presence of AF for many.
Professor John Camm, Professor of Clinical Cardiology at
St. George's University London and Professor of Cardiology at Imperial College
London, comments, "An irregular pulse can be a strong indicator of AF, and
so in asking the public and healthcare providers to carry out simple pulse
checks as a matter of course, we can help ensure that many of those at risk of
suffering strokes are prompted to receive the treatments they need to reduce
this risk. Enabling patients to be properly anticoagulated is an essential step
in reducing the disease burden, with AF-related strokes accounting for 15% of
the 15 million strokes that occur globally every year."
About VTE
VTE is a condition in which a blood clot (a thrombus)
forms in a vein, most commonly in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis. This is
known as DVT. The thrombus can dislodge and travel in the
blood (an embolus), particularly to the pulmonary (lung) arteries.
This is
known as PE. The term VTE includes both DVT and PE.[14] Venous
thromboembolic diseases cover a spectrum ranging from asymptomatic calf vein
thrombosis to symptomatic DVT. They can be fatal if they lead to PE, in which
the blood supply to the lungs is blocked by the thrombus. Non-fatal VTE can
cause serious long-term conditions such as post-thrombotic syndrome
About AF
NVAF is a condition where the heart beats irregularly,
meaning blood can pool and thicken in the left atrium of the heart, causing a
risk for blood clots which then go on to cause stroke or systemic embolism.[15] Patients
with AF are five times more likely to suffer a stroke than those without the
condition.
About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and
supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet
medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100
years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi
Sankyo and its 17,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of
innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In
addition to its strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension, dyslipidemia,
bacterial infections, and thrombotic disorders, the Group's research and
development is focused on bringing forth novel therapies in
cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, pain management, and oncology, including
biologics. For more information, please visit: http://www.daiichisankyo.com.
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