Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, is a term that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It is common, affecting as many as 600,000 Americans each year.
Growing Burden of Thrombosis Calls for Medical Innovation
Published March 23, 2011
March 23rd, 2011, Washington, D.C. – Today, in a briefing on Capitol Hill the Alliance for Aging Research released a new volume of The Silver Book®: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation. This latest addition to The Silver Book series paints a comprehensive picture of the burden of thrombosis—with a focus on atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE)—three common causes of and results of thrombosis. The briefing, held in partnership with the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association and StopAfib.org, featured a medical and economic expert, and an atrial fibrillation patient.
Each year around 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with AF; 900,000 experience a VTE event, and 800,000 have a stroke. Some two million Americans die from thrombosis or its consequences. The burden for those that survive is enormous and the cost of care a major expense for individuals and the nation. Stroke alone costs this nation $73.7 billion annually.
Fortunately, research advances in thrombosis are offering significant hope. A number of investigative anticoagulants have the potential to reduce strokes in AF patients while also reducing the risk of bleeds; clot-dissolving agents are proving to lessen the effects of strokes; and the same drugs in the pipeline for AF could prevent VTE after major orthopedic surgery. Advances in thrombosis continue to offer breakthroughs, emphasizing the need to make continued investment in innovations, rather than short-sighted cost-cutting.
“This January, the first Baby Boomers turned 65—10,000 more will turn 65 each day and flood the Medicare rolls,” explains Daniel Perry, President and CEO of the Alliance. “Our best defense against this onslaught of chronic disease and disability is to capitalize on America’s strengths in medical innovation. The Silver Book has become a trusted resource for policymakers and thought leaders who are interested in developing public policy that will make our older generations healthier. We’re confident that this latest volume on thrombosis will be a welcome addition.”
Effective treatment is also critical to decreasing the burden of disease. In order to ensure AF treatment takes into account individual risk factors for bleeding and stroke, the Alliance for Aging Research also announced the launch of the Afib Optimal Treatment Task Force. Member organizations are working together to ensure that practice guidelines reflect the latest information and that these guidelines are effectively put into practice. Members include the Alliance for Aging Research, Anticoagulation Forum, ClotCare, Heart Rhythm Society, National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Stroke Association, Men’s Health Network, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Women’s Health Research, and StopAfib.org.
The Silver Book is published by the non-profit Alliance for Aging Research and is a unique almanac of nearly 2,000 compelling statistics and eye-opening facts that spotlight the mounting burden of chronic disease and the promise of innovation in mitigating that burden. The first volume of The Silver Book was released in 2006. Subsequent volumes have featured data on cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s diseases, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, vision loss, and additional cardiovascular diseases. All of this data can be found online where it is frequently updated with new information. Visit www.silverbook.org to find data, submit information, and subscribe to the RSS feed.
The webcast of this briefing can be found at www.agingresearch.org. A PDF of this latest volume of The Silver Book is available at www.silverbook.org.
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Founded in 1986, the Alliance for Aging Research is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the health and independence of aging Americans through public and private funding of medical research and geriatric education. The Alliance combines the interest of top scientists, public officials, business executives, and foundation leaders to promote a greater national investment in research and new technologies that will prepare our nation for the coming senior boom, and improve the quality of life for today’s older generation