The impact of cancer on the risk of hospitalisation for bleeding among acute coronary syndrome patients: an analysis of the Virtual Cardio-Oncology Research Initiative (VICORI) database
Authors: Ow K W , Tyrer F , Van Den Berg P F , Lai J , Paley L , Rutherford M , Lambert P , De Belder M , Deanfield J , Peake M D , Adlam D 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are common causes of morbidity and mortality. Significant advancements in treatment strategies for both disease entities have resulted in a growing population who live with both conditions. Myocardial infarction (MI) represents approximately 20% of all cardiovascular disease admissions in cancer patients and 10% of patients who present with an acute MI has cancer. Bleeding is a major concern in patients with cancer and an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). While dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) increases a patient’s bleeding risk, cancer patients are at a further increased risk. Cancer is a recognised risk factor associated with an increased bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but blood dyscrasias, liver disease and multiple long-term conditions – all common to cancer patients – further exacerbate this risk. Prescribing DAPT post-ACS and post-PCI remains a challenge when balancing ischaemic and bleeding risks in this population. The VICORI database is the world’s first whole-country cardio-oncology research platform, linking data from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research and Hospital Episode Statistics [1].

Purpose

To investigate the risk of hospitalisation for bleeding among ACS patients stratified by presence or absence of cancer.

Methods

This is an observational cohort study using linked data from the VICORI programme. We explored the risk of hospitalisation for bleeding following an ACS, in patients with and without cancer, identified between 2006–2019. Patients were followed up for one year from the date of their ACS. We used inverse probability weighting based on propensity scores to produce a balanced cohort of patients with and without cancer. Subgroup analyses were performed on patients with ST and non-ST-elevation MI alongside coronary stenting.

Results

Of 608,771 patients presenting with ACS, 9861 (1.6%) had cancer and 598,910 (98.4%) did not have cancer. Prostate (n=1753, 17.8%), colorectal (n=1548, 15.7%), lung (n=1543, 15.7%) and breast (n=607, 6.2%) cancers were the most common types of primary cancers. Relating to PCI, cancer patients received stents in only 35.4% (n=3,489) of cases, while non-cancer patients received stents in 55.5% (n=332,566) of cases. Bleeding events were more prevalent in cancer patients compared to non-cancer patients (n=779, 7.9% vs n=28,016, 4.7%). The rate (hazard) of hospitalisation for bleeding in the first year following ACS was higher in patients with cancer than those without (HR:1.46, 95%CI 1.36-1.57).

Conclusion

In this large real-world observational study, cancer patients had an increased risk of hospitalisation for bleeding after ACS compared to those without. Further work is needed to identify people with cancer who are at a high-risk of bleeding, optimal therapies, and the risk:benefit ratio of bleeding versus subsequent cardiovascular events.Incidence Rate of Bleeding in PatientsHazard Ratios for Bleeding