Risk factors of recurrence in patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: from the COMMAND VTE Registry
Authors: Nishimoto Y , Yamashita Y , Morimoto T , Saga S , Sato Y , Kimura T ,   the COMMAND VTE Registry Investigators
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background/Introduction
Cancer is a strong risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) including pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Patients with VTE have a long-term risk of recurrence, which can be prevented by anticoagulation therapy. Prolonged anticoagulation therapy is recommended for patients with cancer-associated VTE, although the risk of recurrence might depend on the individual patient.

Purpose
We aimed to identify the risk factors of recurrence in patients with cancer-associated VTE.

Methods
The COMMAND VTE Registry is a multicenter retrospective registry enrolling 3027 consecutive patients with acute symptomatic VTE among 29 Japanese centers between January 2010 and August 2014. The present study population consisted of 695 cancer-associated VTE patients. The primary outcome measure in the present study was recurrent VTE, which was defined as PE and/or DVT with symptoms accompanied by confirmation of a new thrombus or exacerbation of the thrombus by objective imaging examinations or autopsy. Discontinuation of anticoagulation was defined as a withdrawal of anticoagulation therapy lasting &gt;14 days for any reason. We selected clinically relevant variables and variables with P values &lt;0.1 in a univariate analysis as potential risk factors, and constructed a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model for recurrent VTE incorporating the anticoagulation therapy status as a time-updated covariate.

Results
Among the 695 study patients, recurrent VTE occurred in 78 patients, of whom 54 (69%) occurred within 6 months. The cumulative incidence of recurrent VTE was 7.7% at 3-months, 8.9% at 6-months, 11.8% at 1-year, and 17.7% at 5-years. The cumulative incidence of discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy was 18.0% at 3-months, 29.5% at 6-months, 43.4% at 1-year, and 66.5% at 5-years. The cumulative 5-year incidence of recurrent VTE was most frequent in patients with uterus/ovary cancer (26.0%), followed by those with lung cancer (24.7%). The multivariable Cox proportional hazard model revealed that chronic kidney disease (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.36–3.77, P=0.002), a high D-dimer level at the time of VTE diagnosis (HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.71–4.74, P&lt;0.001), advanced cancer (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.05–2.72, P=0.03) and discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.53–4.63, P&lt;0.001) were independently associated with an increased risk of recurrent VTE. No cancer site was independently associated with an increased risk for recurrent VTE when adjusting for the above mentioned risk factors in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, although the risk of recurrent VTE numerically differed according to the cancer site.

Conclusions
Among patients with cancer-associated VTE, chronic kidney disease, a high D-dimer level at the time of VTE diagnosis, advanced cancer, and discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy were independent risk factors of recurrence.

Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Research Institute for Production Development, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Figure 1Figure 2