New tool from the University of Nottingham may help screen patients at risk for VTE

Heart health is a major concern for many Americans, which is why individuals who are hoping to reduce their risk of experiencing a stroke choose to buy Plavix. The condition arises due to the presence of serious blood clots. According to a paper published in the British Medical Journal, a new tool created at the University of Nottingham could be an effective way of identifying people who need preventive treatment for this ailment.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the tool is based on simple variables that are accessible to patients and can easily be integrated into computer systems. This could help assess people's risk of having serious blood clots and consequently developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) before they are admitted to the hospital. Additionally, the screening technique could help doctors decide whether to prescribe medications that carry an increased clotting risk.

Lead authors Julia Hippisley-Cox and Carol Coupland studied data from 3.5 million men and women between the ages of 25 and 84. The rate of VTE was about 15 cases per 10,000 people, according to their analysis.

"Further research is needed to assess how best to use the algorithm and whether, upon implementation, it has any impact on health outcomes," the scientists concluded.