Anticoagulant therapy after venous thromboembolism and 10-year mortality

Long-Term Risk of VTE in Sarcoidosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for VTE, but unlike other inflammatory diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, data on the risk of VTE in patients with sarcoidosis are sparse.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Do patients with sarcoidosis have a higher long-term risk of VTE (pulmonary embolism or DVT, and each of these individually) compared with the background population?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Using Danish nationwide registries, patients aged ≥ 18 years with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis (two or more inpatient/outpatient visits, 1996-2020) without prior VTE were matched 1:4 by age, sex, and comorbidities with individuals from the background population. The primary outcome was VTE.

RESULTS

We included 14,742 patients with sarcoidosis and 58,968 matched individuals (median age, 44.7 years; 57.2% male). The median follow-up was 8.8 years. Absolute 10-year risks of outcomes for patients with sarcoidosis vs the background population were the following: VTE, 2.9% vs 1.6% (P < .0001), pulmonary embolism, 1.5% vs 0.7% (P < .0001), and DVT, 1.6% vs 1.0% (P < .0001), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, sarcoidosis was associated with an increased rate of all outcomes in the first year after diagnosis (VTE: hazard ratio [HR], 4.94; 95% CI, 3.61-6.75) and after the first year (VTE: HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.45-1.87) compared with the background population. These associations persisted when excluding patients with a history of cancer and censoring patients with incident cancer during follow-up. Three-month mortality was not significantly different between patients with VTE with and without sarcoidosis (adjusted HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.61-1.15).

INTERPRETATION

In this nationwide cohort study, sarcoidosis was associated with a higher long-term risk of VTE compared with a matched background population.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism following head and neck surgery

PURPOSE

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery, but conflicting data exist on VTE risk in patients undergoing head and neck surgery for malignant and non-malignant conditions. Our aim was to examine the risk of VTE among patients with and without cancer undergoing head and neck surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide cohort study to examine the risk of VTE among patients with an otolaryngological diagnosis using data from the Danish National Patient Register between 2010 and 2018. Analyses were stratified by cancer and anatomical areas of the surgical procedure.

RESULTS

In total, 116,953 patients were included of whom 10% (n = 12,083) had active cancer. After 3 months, 1.2% of the patients with cancer and 0.3% of the patients without cancer experienced VTE, respectively. For patients undergoing mouth/throat surgery, 0.8% with cancer and 0.2% without cancer had VTE, respectively. After nose/sinuses surgery 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively. No patients experienced VTE after ear surgery; and after endoscopies the numbers were 1.3% and 0.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

While the minority of patients undergoing head and neck surgery develop VTE postoperatively, the risk increases among those with cancer. To support clinical decision making on anticoagulation, risk stratification tools could be further developed to recognize this hazard in patients with cancer undergoing head and neck surgery.

Discovery and development of Factor Xa inhibitors (2015-2022)

As a pathological coagulation process, thrombus can lead to many serious diseases, including ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). And anticoagulant drugs are one of the most effective ways to prevent and treat these diseases. Although macromolecular anticoagulant drugs such as low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are widely used in the clinic, their characteristics of requiring injectable use hinder their further promotion in the clinic, and the disadvantages of oral anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin and dabigatran etexilate, which can easily cause bleeding adverse effects, are also not addressed. Factor Xa (FXa) has gained attention because it lies at the intersection of the coagulation cascade pathways, whereas subsequently introduced Factor Xa inhibitors such as rivaroxaban and apixaban, among others, have gained market popularity because of their high potency for anticoagulation and high specificity for Factor Xa when administered orally. But some of the drawbacks that these Factor Xa inhibitors have simultaneously such as fewer indications and the lack of an effective reversal drug when bleeding occurs are urgently addressed. The development of new Factor Xa inhibitors therefore becomes one means of addressing these questions. This article summarizes the small molecule Factor Xainhibitors developed from 2015 to 2022, classifies them according to their scaffolds, focuses on the analysis of their structure-activity relationships, and provides a brief assessment of them.

Characteristics of patients receiving extended treatment after incident venous thromboembolism

Given high recurrence risk after venous thromboembolism (VTE), guidelines recommend extended dose rivaroxaban (10 mg OD) or apixaban (2.5 mg BID) to be considered after 6 months of initial treatment. This study aimed to provide insight into clinical practice regarding the use of extended preventive treatment and to describe duration of the initial treatment. Linkage of nationwide health registers identified all in- and outpatients with VTE from April 2017 through 2018. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated adjusting for other VTE-related factors. The study included 6030 patients with VTE. Among rivaroxaban users, 2.2% (n = 113) received the extended 10-mg dose after mean 9.4 (SD 3.1) months of standard treatment. For apixaban, 4.7% (n = 40) received extended 2.5-mg dose after mean 8.0 months (SD 3.9). After adjustments, incident pulmonary embolism (HR 1.81 95% CI 1.12;2.91) and trauma/fracture (HR 1.42 95% CI 0.46;4.43) were associated with switching to extended dose, whereas patients with unprovoked VTE were less likely to receive the extended dose (HR 0.68 95% CI 0.30;1.55). Less than 3% of patients with incident VTE received extended treatment after initial standard treatment. Even though international guidelines suggest that the risk-benefit balance is in favour of extended VTE treatment, this was yet to be translated into clinical practice as of 2018. Studies using contemporary data are warranted to investigate routine clinical practice of extended treatment for VTE recurrence.

Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation treatment beyond 1 year after venous thromboembolism in patients at intermediate recurrence risk

Effectiveness and safety of long-term anticoagulation treatment are uncertain in venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients at intermediate risk of recurrence. We examined the association between treatment beyond 1 year and outcomes in a Danish nationwide register-based study. VTE patients at intermediate risk of recurrence, that is, non-cancer patients with a first-time unprovoked VTE, who started oral anticoagulation treatment within 30 days and were alive 365 days after the index VTE were included and followed between 2007 and 2015. Exposure was extended (>365 days) or intermediate (91-365 days) treatment. Analyses were done using Cox regression on a propensity score weighted population. We included 18 609 patients with 7232 (38.9%) receiving extended treatment. Mean duration of follow-up was 2.6 years. Compared with intermediate treatment, treatment beyond 365 days was associated with a lower weighted risk of recurrent VTE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.65) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.90) and an increased risk of major bleeding (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.58-2.22). In conclusion, extended anticoagulation treatment (predominantly warfarin) beyond 1 year was in real-life settings associated with a lower risk of recurrent VTE and all-cause mortality among VTE patients with an intermediate risk of recurrence. However, an increased bleeding risk should be considered.

Delayed anticoagulation in venous thromboembolism: Reasons and associated outcomes

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the number of cases with delayed anticoagulation initiation, explored the reasons for the delay, and its impact on outcome in patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated in an organized setting of treatment initiation and continuous, prospective follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with anticoagulation initiation delay >24 hours were identified within the cohort of patients with acute VTE enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Venous Thromboembolism Registry between 2013 and 2020. The reasons for treatment delay were explored by reviewing the electronic database. VTE recurrence, all-cause mortality, major bleeding, and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB) were compared to those with no anticoagulation delay.

RESULTS

Of 2378 patients with acute VTE, 100 (4.2%) experienced an anticoagulation delay. We identified seven reasons for treatment delays: deferring anticoagulation initiation to specialists (n = 38), thrombocytopenia (n = 10), planned or recent procedure (n = 16), active or recent bleeding (n = 12), missed diagnosis (n = 7), logistics (n = 6), and patient decision (n = 4). In seven cases, no reason was identified. We identified modifiable reasons for anticoagulation delay in 55%. At 90-day follow-up, patients with anticoagulation delay had a higher rate of mortality and major bleeding. VTE recurrence and CRNMB were not statistically different compared to those without anticoagulation delay. After adjustment for age, weight, and cancer, hazard ratios (HRs) for VTE recurrence and major bleeding remained elevated but not to a statistically significant level.

CONCLUSION

In the setting of a highly organized system of anticoagulation initiation, the incidence of treatment delay is low. Yet most delays could be avoided. A low number of cases provide insufficient power to evaluate the clinical consequences of anticoagulation initiation delay; however, elevated HR for VTE recurrence and major bleeding suggest association and need for further investigation.

Predictors of Not Initiating Anticoagulation After Incident Venous Thromboembolism: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate potential predictors associated with not initiating anticoagulation after incident venous thromboembolism.

METHODS

We linked Danish nationwide health registries to identify all patients with incident venous thromboembolism from 2003 through 2016. We defined treatment noninitiation as not claiming a prescription for an anticoagulant drug within 30 days after hospital discharge. To identify potential predictors of noninitiation, relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated adjusting for other compliance-related factors.

RESULTS

The study included 38,044 patients with incident venous thromboembolism (53.2% female and median age 66.1 years). Of these, 24.1% (n = 9294) were noninitiators. Demographic and condition-related factors that predicted noninitiation included: female sex (RR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25-1.34), age <30 vs age >65 years (RR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13-1.33), hospitalization 0-3 days vs >3 days (RR 1.96; 95% CI, 1.87-2.07), incident deep venous thrombosis (RR 1.91; 95% CI, 1.81-2.01), and unprovoked venous thromboembolism (RR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.17). Socioeconomic factors had less influence on risk of noninitiation. Individual chronic diseases predictive of noninitiation included congestive heart failure (RR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.17-1.37), ischemic heart disease (RR 1.20; 95% CI, 1.13-1.28), and liver disease (RR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.42-1.81).

CONCLUSION

Up to one-fourth of patients diagnosed with incident venous thromboembolism did not initiate anticoagulant treatment within 30 days after hospital discharge. Identification of clinical predictors of noninitiation may enable implementation of patient-tailored strategies to improve adherence and thereby potentially prevent venous thromboembolism morbidity, mortality, and recurrence.

Treatment and Outcomes of Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Venous Thrombosis: The CVRN VTE Study

BACKGROUND

Few studies describe both inpatient and outpatient treatment and outcomes of patients with acute venous thromboembolism in the United States.

METHODS

A multi-institutional cohort of patients diagnosed with confirmed pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis during the years 2004 through 2010 was established from 4 large, US-based integrated health care delivery systems. Computerized databases were accessed and medical records reviewed to collect information on patient demographics, clinical risk factors, initial antithrombotic treatment, and vital status. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the risk of death at 90 days.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 5497 adults with acute venous thromboembolism. Pulmonary embolism was predominantly managed in the hospital setting (95.0%), while 54.5% of patients with lower extremity thrombosis were treated as outpatients. Anticoagulant treatment differed according to thromboembolism type: 2688 patients (92.8%) with pulmonary embolism and 1625 patients (86.9%) with lower extremity thrombosis were discharged on anticoagulants, compared with 286 patients (80.1%) with upper extremity thrombosis and 69 (54.8%) patients with other thrombosis. While 4.5% of patients died during the index episode, 15.4% died within 90 days. Pulmonary embolism was associated with a higher 90-day death risk than lower extremity thrombosis (adjusted hazard ratio 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.47), as was not being discharged on anticoagulants (adjusted hazard ratio 5.56; 95% confidence interval, 4.76-6.67).

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter, community-based study of patients with acute venous thromboembolism, anticoagulant treatment and outcomes varied by thromboembolism type. Although case fatality during the acute episode was relatively low, 15.4% of people with thromboembolism died within 90 days of the index diagnosis.

Rivaroxaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in real life: A single-center prospective study

The clinical profile, evolution and complications of treatment with rivaroxaban in a cohort of patients presenting with venous thromboembolism (VTE) were analyzed in an observational, non-interventional and prospective study.A total of 111 patients were included in the study. Clinical data were collected from the medical history of the patients and recorded in a specific database.Mean age was 63.8 ± 17.4 years, 53.2% of patients were men, 55.9% had at least another concomitant condition, and 40.9% at least 1 VTE risk factor. 54.1% of patients presented with deep venous thrombosis, 32.4% with pulmonary embolism and 13.5% with both conditions simultaneously. The 61% of patients were admitted to hospital and mean hospital length-of-stay was 8.8 ± 9.9 days. After a mean follow-up 530 ± 464 days (median follow-up of 405 days), 3.9% of patients died and VTE recurrence occurred in 2.9% of patients. While receiving rivaroxaban, a first bleeding complication occurred in 8.1%; all events were minor bleeding.Our study supports the current literature data and confirms the similar results of real-life VTE patients with those enrolled in the rivaroxaban pivotal clinical trials. Rivaroxaban may facilitate outpatient treatment and might be considered as a first-line therapy for the management of VTE patients.

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD): a safe procedure for the anticoagulated patient?

Background

Approximately one in five persons living in the USA is maintained on oral anticoagulation. It has typically been recommended that anticoagulation be withheld prior to hemorrhoidal procedures. Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) is a minimally invasive treatment for symptomatic hemorrhoids, and outcomes with patients on anticoagulation who have undergone this procedure have not been previously reported. Here, we report our preliminary results of patients who underwent THD while on anticoagulation.

Methods

During a 53-month period (February 2009–July 2015), patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids refractory to medical management who underwent surgical treatment with THD were retrospectively reviewed. The subset of patients who underwent THD while anticoagulated was compared to a cohort of patient who were not taking anticoagulation and who otherwise demonstrated normal coagulation profiles and who did not have a known predisposition to bleeding or inherited coagulopathy. The primary study endpoint was to assess postoperative bleeding in patients who were maintained on anticoagulation before and after surgery.

Results

During the 53-month study period, 106 patients underwent the THD procedure for symptomatic hemorrhoids. Of these, seventy patients underwent THD without anticoagulation therapy, while 36 patients underwent THD while taking one or more oral anticoagulants. The postoperative morbidity between the two cohorts was similar, and specifically there was no statistical difference in the rate of postoperative hemorrhage (19.4 vs. 15.7 %; odds ratio 1.295, 95 % CI 0.455–3.688, p = 0.785). No patient, in either cohort, required re-intervention for any reason during the study period. Patients who underwent THD while on anticoagulation were less likely to have recurrent hemorrhoidal disease during the study’s 6-month median follow-up period (2.8 vs. 7.1 %, p = 0.049).

Conclusions

These preliminary data reveal that THD can be performed on anticoagulated patients without cessation of oral agents without increasing morbidity from postoperative bleeding.