Using the Caprini Risk Score to Increase Awareness of Venous Thrombus Embolism in the Community: Know Your Score II

• Published in: Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis Vol. 29; p. 10760296231188425
• Main Authors: Huang, Chunping, Tariman, Joseph, Simonovich, Shannon, Bongirwar, Arav, Honavar, Divya, Niverthi, Mala, Modey, Rashi, Caprini, Joseph, Laddu, Atul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2023; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Birth control; Cross-sectional studies; Diabetes; Health risks; Hospitalization; Inflammatory bowel disease; Original Manuscript; Secondary school students; Smoking; Surgical techniques; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Caprini Risk Score; venous thrombus embolism; awareness; community
• DOI: 10.1177/10760296231188425
• EISSN: 1938-2723
• ISSN: 1076-0296

To assess individual participants’ baseline thrombosis risk calculated by Caprini Risk Score (CRS) before injury, illness, or hospitalization occur, to increase the awareness of venous thromboembolism (VTE) by viewing 2 short videos. A cross-sectional study was conducted online between August 2022 and January 2023 in the USA, UK, and India to assess the risk of thrombosis of individuals as a baseline. One nursing practitioner and 4 high school students were on the research team. Descriptive statistical methods were used in data analysis. A total of 928 usable completed questionnaires from 945 participants were analyzed. The mean CRS was 4.93 ± 3.175; 0 to 4 (N  =  460, 49.6%), 5 to 8 (N  =  394, 42.5%), and 9 (N  =  74: 8.0%). History of blood clots (N  =  247, 26.6%), <40 years old (N  =  133, 52.6%); women on oral contraceptives (N  =  324, 34.9%), history of smoking (30%), diabetes (26%), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 17.3%). Top-level findings: High incidence of family history of thrombosis (26.6%), smoking, diabetes, contraceptives, and IBD. The average CRS (7.9) in patients over 75 years indicates that even a minor surgical procedure may be associated with significant VTE risk. We achieved an important goal by increasing awareness of VTE using this unique method involving high school students and a nurse working with friends and families to complete the CRS assessment. Encouraging the respondents to share information with their personal physicians prior to the event and keep these data in their medical file is a potential valuable source of saving time. This study emphasizes the importance of individuals collecting baseline information prior to illness or hospitalization.