MADRID, June 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs or the lungs,
known as venous thrombosis (VTE) is higher in cancer patients, and
so is the risk of bleeding. Whereas anticoagulant therapy lowers
the risk of thrombosis recurrence, it further increases the risk of
bleeding. Previous studies suggested that the risks of dying from a
thrombosis recurrence or bleeding are similar, but such findings
may not apply to cancer patients. We aimed to determine the risk of
dying from a thrombosis recurrence or bleeding in patients with
cancer and thrombosis. We used administrative databases to conduct
a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada, including patients 65 years
old and older with cancer and a VTE diagnosed within six
months of the cancer diagnosis. We estimated the VTE recurrence and
major bleeding (MB; defined as gastrointestinal or intracranial)
and the 7-day mortality after VTE recurrence or MB events, as well
as the ratios of the mortality for MB compared to VTE recurrence.
Between 2004 and 2014 we included 6967 VTE events (mean age 75
years, 52% male) treated primarily with low molecular weight
heparin or warfarin, either alone or in combination. At six
months of the initial VTE there were 3% MB events and 17% VTE
recurrences. The 7-day mortality rate was 0.5% for VTE and 11% for
MB with a ratio of 21.8 (95% CI 9-53). There were no differences
between anticoagulants. This study suggests that the use of
anticoagulants in patients 65 years or older with cancer-related
thrombosis results in an at least nine times higher mortality
if they develop a major bleeding event, compared to a VTE
recurrence. This information should be confirmed in further studies
and taken into account when designing studies and interventions in
this population.
(Logo:
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Presenter: Dr Alejandro Lazo-Langner
Affiliation: Western University, Department of
Medicine, London, Canada
Topic: ASSESSING THE RISK-BENEFIT OF ANTICOAGULANTS
IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CANCER-ASSOCIATED VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM:
A POPULATION BASED STUDY
Abstract S441 will be presented by Alejandro Lazo-Langner on Saturday, June 24, 11:30 - 12:45 in Room
N103.
About the EHA Annual Congress
Hematology is a specialty that covers everything to do with blood:
its origin in the bone marrow, diseases of blood and their
treatments. The latest data on research and developments will be
presented. The topics range from stem cell physiology and
development, to leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma - diagnosis and
treatment; red blood cells, white blood cells- and platelet
disorders; thrombosis and bleeding disorders.
SOURCE European Hematology Association