The Central Hume-east Initiative in Vascular Examinations will investigate strategies to provide residents from Benalla, Wangaratta, Alpine, and Mansfield LGAs vital access to early detection screening for diseased arteries and veins.
CHIVE is a subset of the highly successful Hume-east Initiative in Vascular Examinations clinical trial, which has been running at Gateway Health Wangaratta since 2020.
It looks to engage with local businesses, and health and municipal services, to improve social, health and economic outcomes for their local communities.
At present, up to half of Australian residents who experience diabetes and foot wounds (sometimes referred to as ulcers) are believed to have diseased arteries, which can cause significant interior damage before patients ever get to an emergency ward.
According to Regional Wounds Victoria Hume-east nurse consultant Monika Samolyk, the CHIVE trial would allow medical staff to speed up the diagnosis of diseased arteries, which can be deadly if left untreated.
“The prognosis for people with diabetes, diseased arteries and for wounds requiring amputation is worse than many common cancers — up to 50 per cent of people will not survive five years,” Ms Samolyk said.
“People with diseased arteries are up to six times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke — those who do not have diabetes also make up a large number of those attending emergency departments.
“Many people lack the tell-tale signs and symptoms, such as pain, to alert them to seek help sooner.”
Vascular sonographer Martin Forbes travels from Bendigo once every three weeks and will also assist locals in identifying diseased veins.
“Another group who present to Emergency Department with life-threatening conditions are people with diseased veins, undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis, DVT without a known cause, or with chronic swelling and skin infections,” Ms Samolyk said.
“Varicose veins are strongly linked to a family history of the disease. However, this risk also increases by 15 per cent in single pregnancies and up to 60 per cent in multiple pregnancies. As men age they experience more severe vein disease than women.
“People with such circulation problems and wounds often have other chronic conditions, and they frequently experience social isolation, mental illness, inactivity and disability.
“We can improve community wellbeing and save lives with prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.”
The HIVE clinic trial is not restricted to those who have developed wounds and other conditions; instead, it also acts as a preventative measure to ensure risk management is discussed with patients.
To access the clinic, contact your general practitioner for referral and for further information contact Carmel Hickey on 0447 842 958.
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