Publication Date:
2016-12-02
Description:
Background:The relationship between metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not well defined in the modern treatment era. Previous population-based studies date back to a period marked by inpatient intravenous heparin therapy and inferior survival due to paucity of therapeutic anti-cancer options, and before the advent of newer therapies including oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and anti-angiogenic treatment with bevacizumab. The objectives of this retrospective study were to examine the impact of multiple putative risk factors on VTE incidence in a large representative modern cohort of older patients with metastatic CRC. Methods:We performed a retrospective analysis of SEER-Medicare data on elderly patients with metastatic CRC diagnosed in 2004-2011. VTE and associated risk factors were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for sex, age at diagnosis, race, ethnicity, tumor anatomy (left/right/unknown), calendar year of diagnosis, Charlson comorbidity score, location of SEER registry and urban residence, with time-varying covariates for use of cancer therapies. Results:Of 339,778 records, 11,086 metastatic colon cancer cases were identified. 1,338 cases had VTE with a cumulative incidence of 13% at 1 year and 19% at 3 years. The mean age was 77.9 years (range 65-106). 49.7% were women and 83.5% white. 60.5% had a Charlson comorbidity score of zero at diagnosis; 6% had scores of 6-18. Significant predictors of VTE included female sex (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.22; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10, 1.36; P
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
