Arterial thromboembolic events preceding the diagnosis of cancer in older persons.

TitleArterial thromboembolic events preceding the diagnosis of cancer in older persons.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsNavi BB, Reiner AS, Kamel H, Iadecola C, Okin PM, Tagawa ST, Panageas KS, DeAngelis LM
JournalBlood
Date Published2018 Dec 21
ISSN1528-0020
Abstract

Cancer patients face an increased risk of arterial thromboembolism; however, it's uncertain when this excess risk begins. This study evaluated the risk of arterial thromboembolism before cancer diagnosis. Using the population-based Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked dataset, we identified 374,331 patients ≥67 years of age with a new primary diagnosis of breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, bladder, uterine, pancreatic, gastric cancer, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma from 2005-2013. Cancer patients were individually matched by demographics and comorbidities to Medicare beneficiaries without cancer, who served as controls. Validated diagnosis codes were used to identify arterial thromboembolic events, defined as a composite of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. The Mantel-Haenszel estimator was used to compare risks of arterial thromboembolic events between cancer and non-cancer groups during 30-day periods in the 360 days before date of cancer diagnosis. From 360 to 151 days before cancer diagnosis, the 30-day interval risks of arterial thromboembolic events were similar between cancer patients and matched controls. From 150 to 1 day before cancer diagnosis, the interval 30-day risks of arterial thromboembolic events were higher in cancer patients versus matched controls, progressively increasing as the cancer diagnosis date approached, and peaking during the 30-days immediately before cancer diagnosis, when 2,313 (0.62%) cancer patients were diagnosed with an arterial thromboembolic event versus 413 (0.11%) controls (odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 5.07-6.25). In conclusion, the risk of arterial thromboembolic events begins to increase 150 days before the date of cancer diagnosis in older persons and peaks in the 30 days before.

DOI10.1182/blood-2018-06-860874
Alternate JournalBlood
PubMed ID30578253
Grant ListK23 NS091395 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States