Two Organizations, One Common Cause

Rowan Foundation and National Blood Clot Alliance Join Forces to Help Prevent Life-Threatening Blood Clots Among Young Women

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National Blood Clot Alliance

Dec 18, 2014, 08:00 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation and the National Blood Clot Alliance are pleased to announce their newly formed partnership, which will focus efforts of both organizations toward a common goal: The prevention of life-threatening blood clots among women of child bearing age. This partnership is forged through a generous donation by The Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation that will support NBCA's design and implementation of an awareness plan focused on this important public health issue.

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"We are pleased to be able to work with NBCA on this important initiative," says David Rowan, the head of The Foundation and the father of The Foundation's namesake, Alexandra L. Rowan. "Our aim is to increase awareness about blood clotting risks connected to estrogen-containing methods of birth control, and to contribute to a reduction in the unnecessary loss of life caused by such deadly blood clots."

In late 2013, shortly after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in writing and communications, Alexandra L. Rowan, at the age of 23, lost her life due to a massive pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in her lung. Shortly thereafter, The Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation was formed to honor her memory and to turn the darkness of this tragedy into the beneficial light of something good. One of the primary goals of The Foundation is to prevent the loss of more young women due to preventable blood clots.

"We're extremely grateful to be the beneficiary of this generous contribution from The Alexandra L. Rowan Foundation," says Kathleen Smith, President of NBCA's Board of Directors. "We are committed to making the work we do with this new funding reflect the great promise and potential that Alexandra embodied, and we're very proud to work in her memory as we help other young women learn from this tragic experience and make more informed decisions about their healthcare."

Program Plans: Education, Awareness, Empowerment

The Alexandra L. Rowan Foundation has signed a five-year agreement with NBCA, during which time it will provide a minimum of $50,000 annually to NBCA to apply to education and awareness efforts in this arena. Under this agreement, NBCA has three specific aims: 1) create a unique Web-based portal specific to the information needs of women of child bearing age who might be prescribed or considering birth control methods that contain estrogen 2) build awareness through, among other means, online engagement with specific blog sites and online media and 3) launch a patient-centered discussion board to help empower women to make informed choices about birth control.

In addition, in the first year of this partnership, NBCA will explore and define potential opportunities for specific research efforts involving massive pulmonary embolism and estrogen-containing birth control.

"We do want to build and improve awareness among young women about the risks related to blood clots, and we're equally committed to furthering research into the causes and treatment of massive pulmonary embolism, particularly in terms of potential risks connected to estrogen-based birth control methods," Rowan stresses. "Young women need to have information that will enable them to make informed decisions and to better understand when they may be at risk for deadly blood clots."

Public Health Impact

Up to 900,000 people in the United States each year are affected by blood clots in their legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) and blood clots in their lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). Annually, up to 300,000 Americans – or one person in this country every six minutes – will die due to a blood clot in their lung.

Research conducted by the American Public Health Association shows that nearly three-quarters of the public know little or nothing about DVT. Similar NBCA research shows that fewer than 10% of a national sample had any knowledge of DVT/PE, and of those recognizing the term "blood clot," fewer than 30% knew the signs, symptoms, and risks.

"The primary driver for NBCA's work stems from our ongoing challenge to increase recognition of blood clots," explains NBCA's CEO Randy Fenninger, who also is a PE survivor. "Central to NBCA's mission is the need to equip the public with the knowledge to ask their doctors proactively if they might be at risk for a blood clot.

"Throughout their lives, women are confronted by the risk of deadly blood clots, and we welcome the opportunity to work with The Rowan Foundation to help amplify these important public health messages among this important segment of the population."

There are numerous risk factors connected to blood clots, including hospitalization for three or more days and active cancer and certain cancer treatments. Another primary risk factor is directly related to women's health: Pregnancy, estrogen-containing birth control, and also hormone replacement therapy (HRT) pose a risk for some women. For example, for young women who are neither pregnant nor use estrogen-based birth control, the risk of a blood clot is low: 1 in 5,000 annually. By comparison, studies show that the use of estrogen-based birth control can increase a woman's risk of a blood clot to 1 in 1,000 per year.

"The evidence is clear and there exists a need for greater awareness and understanding," says Rowan. "Our Foundation believes it's important to be in partnership with an organization like NBCA, because they have the resources and skills to successfully provide outreach to young women and also assist us in our efforts to support a research program connected to this clinical challenge."

NBCA is a non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and clot-provoked stroke. The organization works on behalf of people who may be susceptible to blood clots, including, but not limited to, people with clotting disorders, atrial fibrillation, cancer, traumatic injury, and risks related to surgery, lengthy immobility, child birth and birth control. NBCA accomplishes its mission through programs that build public awareness, educate patients and healthcare professionals, and promote supportive public and private sector policy.

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