Key result
A 2005 report highlighted that over 25,000 people in England die annually from hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism, prompting new national guidelines for mandatory risk assessment.
Highlights the public health crisis of hospital-acquired VTE in the UK and the policy response to mandate risk assessment and improve thromboprophylaxis.
Supports ongoing hospital VTE risk assessment; leaves open whether 2005 mortality estimates still apply in current practice.
The majority of hospitalised patients are at risk of venous thrombosis and one in ten hospital deaths are due to pulmonary embolism. A report from the House of Commons Health Committee published in 2005 stated that each year over 25 000 people in England die from venous thromboembolism developing during hospitalisation. The report also stated that, whilst many of these deaths are preventable by thromboprophylaxis, this is not as widely used as it should be. This article reflects on the background prompting the report of the Health Committee and the subsequent response to this, including the publication of a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing surgery and the strategy for venous thrombosis prevention outlined by the Chief Medical Officer for England. It is anticipated that, by 2009, risk assessment will be mandatory for all hospitalised patients in England; the same strategy is likely for the whole UK.
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Trevor Baglin (2008) conducted a review in Venous thromboembolism. Thromboprophylaxis and risk assessment was evaluated. A 2005 report highlighted that over 25,000 people in England die annually from hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism, prompting new national guidelines for mandatory risk assessment.
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