New guidelines issued for diagnosis and management of venous throm...( nt evidence-based recommendations for d...),Health

"These new guidelines represent a collaborative effort between family medicine and internal medicine," said Rick Kellerman, M.D., AAFP president. "We are pleased to collaborate with the American College of Physicians on this endeavor to provide physicians with the tools they need to prevent mortality and morbidity associated with venous thromboembolism."

Incidence rates for VTE are higher in men, African-Americans, and increase substantially with age. Treating VTE at an early stage can avoid complications such as pulmonary embolism or recurrent DVT.

"ACP has been producing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines since 1981 to help physicians provide the best health care possible, based on the best available current evidence," said Amir Qaseem, MD, PhD, MHA, senior medical associate in the Clinical Programs and Quality of Care department of the Medical Education and Publishing Division at the American College of Physicians. "These guidelines provide information on the utility of various diagnostic tools and compare the efficacy and safety of various pharmacologic agents used for treatment of VTE."

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Contact: Janelle Davis
jdavis@aafp.org
800-274-2237
American Academy of Family Physicians
29-Jan-2007