SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – October 11, 2023 – Deep vein thrombosis is characterized by the formation of abnormally more blood clots than physiologically required in predisposed veins due to abnormal coagulability or endothelial conditions. Blood clots can break off, enter the circulation and become dislodged in the arteries of the lungs, which is life-threatening. It is worth noting a surprising figure reported by the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH): a quarter of the world’s population dies each year from diseases caused by thrombosis.
Professor Lee Lai Heng, Senior Consultant, Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital
Preventive measures for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) begin at home with behavioral changes, continue at work with more body movements, and hospitalized patients should be assessed for risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis , recommended the doctors. To help implement recommendations to broadly reduce the risk of DVT, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) has led a global campaign known as World Thrombosis Day (WTD), which takes place every year on October 13. For this year’s occasion, ISTH launched the “60 For 60 Fitness Challenge” to promote exercising “every 60 minutes with 60 seconds of muscle movement.”
Professor Lee Lai Heng, Senior Consultant, Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, said that people are increasingly inclined towards a sedentary lifestyle as ever-changing technology continues to provide them with the conveniences of daily life as well as the enjoyment of social media activities and computer games. Improper body movements could cause blood clots to form in the blood vessels to the point of blocking them, leading to thrombosis, as well as the possibility of serious complications. There have been reports of otherwise healthy people developing deep vein thrombosis after prolonged sessions of working or playing at the computer, as well as after marathon games of mahjong.
The main risk factors predisposing to the development of DVT include:
- Prolonged immobility, whether in the hospital or outside the hospital. Blood circulation in the lower limbs slows when the body remains still, for example during prolonged bed rest, prolonged sitting, especially in an uncomfortable posture, leading to increased susceptibility to blood clots.
- Hospitalization and major surgery: More than 60% of cases of thrombosis involved patients hospitalized for too long or suffering from vascular trauma after surgery. Their limited movements put them in danger.
- Hospitalization and serious illnesses: Patients with debilitating heart and lung diseases and those with serious infections and inflammatory conditions are prone to developing DVT during hospitalization.
- Cancer and cancer treatment – Compared to healthy people, cancer patients are 4 times more likely to develop thrombosis, which can then hinder their cancer treatment.
- Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement and pregnancy: Oral contraceptives and estrogen medications increase levels of clotting factors, thereby predisposing to blood clots. Pregnant women are also at increased risk because their blood thickens throughout their pregnancy and during the first six weeks after giving birth. In the general population, the risks of VTE in healthy women who are taking hormonal medications or who are pregnant are low; but in the presence of other additional risk actors, the risks of VTE increase considerably.
- Smoking and obesity Well-established risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases have also been found to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism.
- Hereditary cause People suffering from conditions such as antithrombin deficiency, protein C deficiency and protein S deficiency, which are a genetic predisposition with increased blood clotting abilities, are predisposed to venous thromboembolism (VTE). Other genetic predispositions such as factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation, common in the West, are very rare here. There are also other hereditary predispositions to VE that may not be well described. Therefore, if there is a family history of VTE, care should be taken to apply preventive measures in high-risk situations.
“Preventive measures are the best approach to reducing the risk of thrombosis, and the simplest for most people. Simply avoid risky behaviors. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and body weight. Don’t smoke. Don’t stay sitting too long. Move your body. “Schedule regular time for exercise. Have a doctor periodically assess your risk if you need to keep a watchful eye on exposure to a known risk. Knowledge of risk factors is essential for effective preparation, should it be necessary,” said Dr Lee Lai Heng.
Because thrombosis would continue to be a silent killer, the ISTH found it imperative to establish the WTD, now observed globally on October 13, to raise awareness about the disease. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year’s campaign theme, Move Against Thrombosis, encourages people to get up and move to increase blood flow, which can help reduce the risk of blood clots. ISTH also launched the “60 For 60 Fitness Challenge,” hoping to see everyone spend just 60 seconds moving in some way for every 60 minutes of sedentary time: walking around a given location, dancing to your favorite tunes, performing hip circles, to name a few examples, all of which are preventive measures against thrombosis.
Hashtag: #World Thrombosis Day
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