Boston Scientific Joins World Thrombosis Day Campaign

Becomes Global Partner to Strengthen Awareness and Advocacy Efforts in Raising Awareness of Thrombosis as an Urgent Health Problem

CHAPEL HILL, NC, USA, September 13, 2016 – The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) is pleased to announce that Boston Scientific, a company that transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world, has committed to serve as an official Global Partner for its World Thrombosis Day campaign. 

A year-long campaign recognized on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day focuses attention on the often overlooked and misunderstood condition of thrombosis. With thousands of educational events in more than 80 countries around the world, World Thrombosis Day and its partners place a global spotlight on thrombosis as an urgent and growing health problem. Together, the collaboration aims to reduce death and disability caused by thrombosis. 

“Given that worldwide, one in four people die from conditions caused by thrombosis, there is a critical need for the global effort behind the World Thrombosis Day campaign,” said Dr. Keith Dawkins, executive vice president and global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific. “On joining the campaign as a Global Partner, Boston Scientific is proud to support the World Thrombosis Day organization in driving efforts that help educate on thrombosis causes, symptoms and available treatment options that can help millions overcome this life-threatening condition.”

In its third year, the World Thrombosis Day campaign seeks to ensure citizens of the world “Know Thrombosis” and understand the steps to take to “Keep Life Flowing.” Based on a global survey conducted in nine countries among men and women, too few people know about thrombosis, specifically blood clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism) and their life-threatening consequences. The campaign urges people to: 1) Know the risk factors; 2) Know the signs and symptoms; 3) Be proactive and talk to a health care professional about risk and prevention of blood clots, especially if admitted to the hospital or having surgery. 

“We are honored to welcome Boston Scientific as an official Global Partner of the campaign,” said Dr. Gary Raskob, dean of the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and chairman of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee. “We are excited to work together to increase awareness at all levels – personal, health care systems, providers, and policy makers – to collectively encourage prevention and to continue addressing thrombosis as an urgent and growing health problem.”   

For more information about World Thrombosis Day, visit www.worldthrombosisday.org. 

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About World Thrombosis Day
Launched in 2014 and held annually on 13 October, World Thrombosis Day (WTD) aims to increase public, healthcare professional and health care systems’ awareness of thrombosis and, ultimately, to reduce deaths and disabilities from thromboembolic disease through a greater awareness of its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. WTD’s mission supports the World Health Assembly’s global target of reducing premature deaths by non-communicable disease by 25 percent by 2025, as well as the WHO global action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the 2013-2020 timeframe. Unrestricted corporate grants to help support WTD come from Bayer HealthCare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Alliance, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen and Portola Pharmaceuticals; and global patron Medtronic. Visit www.worldthrombosisday.org for more information.

About the ISTH
Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ISTH is an international professional membership organization with 4,000 clinicians, researchers and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 93 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs such as its Core Curriculum, research activities; meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at www.isth.org.

Media Contacts

World Thrombosis Day
Barbara Krolak, Relationship and Campaign Specialist
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
+1 919-929-3807
Barbara_Krolak@isth.org