Sarah Ford | November 7, 2013
New Survey Finds One in Five Patients Had Surgery Before Diagnosis
One in five people with Marfan syndrome had some form of surgery before they were diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening condition, according to a survey of 1277 people conducted by The Marfan Foundation from July 21-August 18, 2013. The survey was conducted to identify the signs that lead to a Marfan syndrome diagnosis and better understand the diagnosis process that people go through.
Alarmingly, of those who had surgery before they were diagnosed, 20 percent had an operation to repair a tear in their aorta, the large artery that takes blood away from the heart. In addition, 27 percent had an operation on tendons, ligaments, or joints; 24 percent on their back; 22 percent on bones; and 14 percent to repair a chest deformity.
“It is concerning that so many people had surgery to repair their aorta before they got their Marfan diagnosis,” said Alan C. Braverman, MD, Director of the Marfan Syndrome Clinic at Washington University School of Medicine and Chair of The Marfan Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board.
Source: The Marfan Foundation
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
Why Your Company Should Offer a Matching Gift Program
Every year, billions of dollars in potential charitable giving go unclaimed, not because employees don’t want to give, but because their employers haven’t made it…
Employee Disaster Relief: How to Build an Emergency Assistance Fund Before the Next Crisis
The 2026 hurricane season is already underway. While NOAA forecasts a 55% probability of a below-average season, projections still call for 8–14 named storms, 3–6…
Emergency Assistance Fund Compliance: How to Stay IRS-Compliant While Maximizing Employee Impact
Why Emergency Assistance Funds Matter More Than Ever Financial insecurity remains a critical challenge for today’s workforce. Approximately 37% of Americans cannot afford an unexpected…
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
