Risk Factors Associated with Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics in patients with VTE confirmed with cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify differences associated with the development, between the pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) groups. Results: From January 2009 to December 2014, a total of 103 patients with VTE were included in the final analysis: mean age, 70.6±11.8 years; female, 56.3%. Most of the patients had a solid cancer (95.1%), and half of all patients had distant metastasis (50.5%). Proportion of patients with VTE who received chemotherapy within a year was 64.1%. Central venous catheters were applied to 59 patients within 6 weeks before the diagnosis of VTE. The proportion of patients with DVT only among VTE patients was 21.4%. In logistic regression analysis, central venous catheter insertion (OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.09, 6.49; p=.032), as well as lung metastasis (OR=2.94; 95% CI=1.06, 8.18; p=.039) were significant predictors for PE rather than DVT only. Conclusion: VTE developed in patients with advanced stage cancer. Further studies analyzing the effects of prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with cancer in regards to development of VTE are recommended.