Frequency, risk factors, and impact on mortality of arterial thromboembolism in patients with cancer

Abstract

In contrast to venous thromboembolism, little is known about arterial thromboembolism in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to quantify the risk and explore clinical risk factors of arterial thromboembolism in patients with cancer, and investigate its potential impact on mortality. Patients with newly-diagnosed cancer or progression of disease after remission were included in a prospective observational cohort study and followed for two years. Between October 2003 and October 2013, 1880 patients (54.3% male; median age 61 years) were included. During a median follow up of 723 days, 48 (2.6%) patients developed arterial thromboembolism [20 (41.7%) myocardial infarction, 16 (33.3%) stroke and 12 (25.0%) peripheral arterial events], 157 (8.4%) developed venous thromboembolism, and 754 (40.1%) patients died. The cumulative 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month risks of arterial thromboembolism were 0.9%, 1.1%, 1.7%, and 2.6%, respectively. Male sex (subdistribution hazard ratio=2.9, 95%CI: 1.5-5.6; P=0.002), age (subdistribution hazard ratio per 10 year increase=1.5, 1.2-1.7; P