Timing and characteristics of venous thromboembolism after noncancer surgery

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality postoperatively. The use of pharmacologic prophylaxis is effective in reducing the incidence of VTE. However, the prophylaxis is often discontinued at hospital discharge, especially for those with benign disease. The implications of this practice are not known. We assessed the data from a large, ongoing registry regarding the time course of VTE and outcomes after noncancer surgery. Methods: We analyzed the RIETE (Computerized Registry on Venous Thromboembolism) registry, which includes data from consecutive patients with symptomatic confirmed VTE. In the present study, we focused on general surgical patients who had developed symptomatic postoperative VTE in the first 8 weeks after noncancer surgery. The main objective was to assess the interval between surgery and the occurrence of VTE. Additional variables included the clinical presentation associated with the event, the use of thrombosis prophylaxis, and unfavorable outcomes. Results: The data from 3296 patients were analyzed. The median time from surgery to the detection of VTE was 16 days (interquartile range, 8-30 days). Of the VTE events, 77% were detected after the first postoperative week and 27% after 4 weeks. Overall, 43.9% of the patients with VTE had received pharmacologic prophylaxis after surgery for a median of 8 days (interquartile range, 5-14 days), and three quarters of the VTE events were detected after pharmacologic prophylaxis had been discontinued. Overall, 54% of the patients with VTE had presented with pulmonary embolism. For 15% of the patients, the clinical outcome was unfavorable, including 4% who had died within 90 days. Conclusions: The risk of VTE after noncancer general surgery remains high for ≤2 months. More than one half of the patients had presented with symptomatic PE as the VTE event, and 15% had had unfavorable outcomes. Only 44% of these patients had received pharmacologic prophylaxis for around 1 week

Development of a Risk Prediction Score for Occult Cancer in Patients With VTE

Background The benefits of a diagnostic workup for occult cancer in patients with VTE are controversial. Our aim was to provide and validate a risk score for occult cancer in patients with VTE. Methods We designed a nested case-control study in a cohort of patients with VTE included in the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) registry from 2001 to 2014. Cases included cancer detected beyond the first 30 days and up to 24 months after VTE. Control subjects were defined as patients with VTE with no cancer in the same period. Results Of 5,863 eligible patients, 444 (7.6%; 95% CI, 6.8%-8.2%) were diagnosed with occult cancer. On multivariable analysis, variables selected were male sex, age > 70 years, chronic lung disease, anemia, elevated platelet count, prior VTE, and recent surgery. We built a risk score assigning points to each variable. Internal validity was confirmed using bootstrap analysis. The proportion of patients with cancer who scored ≤ 2 points was 5.8% (241 of 4,150) and that proportion in those who scored ≥ 3 points was 12% (203 of 1,713). We also identified scores divided by sex and age subgroups. Conclusions This is the first risk score that has identified patients with VTE who are at increased risk for occult cancer. Our score needs to be externally validated

Analysis of noncatheter-associated upper extremity deep venous thrombosis from the RIETE registry

Objective We sought to determine the risk factors for subsequent bleeding and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) events following isolated noncatheter-associated upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (non-CA-UEDVT) to better inform future treatment decisions for this group of patients. Methods The RIETE registry (Registro Informatizado de Enfermedad TromboEmb\uf3lica [Computerized Registry of Patients with Venous Thromboembolism]) is a prospective international registry of patients with objectively confirmed symptomatic VTE. Patients with a symptomatic, isolated, proximal UEDVT from March 2001 through March 2015 were analyzed. Any patient with an indwelling catheter or pacemaker lead at the DVT site and at the time of thrombosis was considered to have a CA-UEDVT and was excluded. Patient and treatment characteristics such as age, gender, comorbidities, VTE risk factors, treatment drug, and duration were collected. Outcomes examined included recurrent DVT, subsequent pulmonary embolism (PE), and hemorrhage. Multivariate analysis was performed using stepwise logistic regression. Results Of the 1100 patients who met the study criteria, 580 (53%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 50 \ub1 20 years, and overall patient survival at 1 year was 85%. Recurrent VTE occurred in 59 patients (5.4%). Of these, 46 patients (4%) had recurrent DVT, 10 (0.9%) had a PE following UEDVT diagnosis, and 3 (0.3%) had both. PE was fatal in three patients (0.3%). Bleeding occurred in 50 patients (4.5%), major bleeding in 19 patients (1.7%), and fatal bleeding in 6 patients (0.5%). On multivariate analysis, malignant disease was associated with VTE recurrence (odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.45; P <.04), whereas hemorrhage was associated with age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05; P =.002) and malignant disease (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.34-4.76; P <.005). Hemorrhage and recurrent VTE were also significantly associated (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.16-6.76; P <.03). Conclusions PE following non-CA-UEDVT is rare. Malignant disease was associated with VTE recurrence. Age and malignant disease were associated with hemorrhage, and VTE recurrence was associated with hemorrhage. Further prospective studies should be undertaken to best determine length of anticoagulation treatment for the varied populations of patients with UEDVT

DVT Management and Outcome Trends, 2001 to 2014

Background A comprehensive evaluation of temporal trends in the treatment of patients who have DVT may assist with identification of modifiable factors that contribute to short-term outcomes. Methods We assessed temporal trends in length of hospital stay and use of pharmacological and interventional therapies among 26,695 adults with DVT enrolled in the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbólica registry between 2001 and 2014. We also examined temporal trends in risk-adjusted rates of all-cause, pulmonary embolism-related, and bleeding-related death to 30 days after diagnosis. Results The mean length of hospital stay decreased from 9.0 days in 2001 to 2005 to 7.6 days in 2010 to 2014 (P <01). For initial DVT treatment, the use of low-molecular-weight heparin decreased from 98% to 90% (P <01). Direct oral anticoagulants use increased from 0.5% in 2010 to 13.4% in 2014 (P <001). Risk-adjusted rates of 30-day all-cause mortality decreased from 3.9% in 2001 to 2005 to 2.7% in 2010 to 2014 (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; P <01). VTE-related mortality showed a nonstatistically significant downward trend (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.44-1.10; P =13), whereas 30-day bleeding-related mortality significantly decreased from 0.5% in 2001 to 2005 to 0.1% in 2010-2014 (adjusted rate ratio per year, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.77; P < .01). Conclusions This international registry-based temporal analysis identified reductions in length of stay for adults hospitalized for DVT. The study also found a decreasing trend in adjusted rates of all-cause and bleeding-related mortality

Real-Time Dissemination of Aggregate Data on Presentation and Outcomes of Patients With Venous Thromboembolism: The RIETE Infographics Project

In the current era of patient empowerment and precision medicine, access to timely information is critical to decision-making. Unfortunately, we currently lack patient-specific, real-time data about clinical presentation, risk of thrombotic or hemorrhagic events, key risk factors, and adverse outcomes in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Accordingly, the Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmb\uf3lica (RIETE) investigators developed a tool to provide an open-source, real-time graphic representation of VTE-related data derived from over 90 000 patients with confirmed VTE. This information is intended to facilitate discussion in the informed decision-making process. The current article describes the aims, rationale, methods, and ongoing and future efforts of the real-time VTE infographics developed by the RIETE registry collaborators

Natural history of patients with venous thromboembolism and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Findings from the RIETE registry

Background: Limited data exist about the clinical presentation, ideal therapy and outcomes of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who develop venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods: We used the data in the RIETE Registry to assess the clinical characteristics, therapeutic approaches and clinical outcomes during the course of anticoagulant therapy in patients with HHT according to initial presentation as pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Results: Of 51,375 patients with acute VTE enrolled in RIETE from February 2009 to January 2019, 23 (0.04%) had HHT: 14 (61%) initially presented with PE and 9 (39%) with DVT alone. Almost half (47.8%) of the patients with VTE had a risk factor for VTE. Most PE and DVT patients received low-molecular-weight heparin for initial (71 and 100%, respectively) and long-term therapy (54 and 67%, respectively). During anticoagulation for VTE, the rate of bleeding events (major 2, non-major 6) far outweighed the rate of VTE recurrences (recurrent DVT 1): 50.1 bleeds per 100 patient-years (95%CI: 21.6-98.7) vs. 6.26 recurrences (95%CI: 0.31-30.9; p = 0.020). One major and three non-major bleeding were epistaxis. No patient died of bleeding. One patient died shortly after being diagnosed with acute PE. Conclusions: During anticoagulation for VTE in HHT patients, there were more bleeding events than VTE recurrences. Most bleeding episodes were non-major epistaxis

Comparison of seven prognostic tools to identify low-risk pulmonary embolism in patients aged <50 years

In young patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the predictive value of currently available prognostic tools has not been evaluated. Our objective was to compare prognostic value of 7 available tools (GPS, PESI, sPESI, Prognostic Algorithm, PREP, shock index and RIETE) in patients aged &lt;50 years. We used the RIETE database, including PE patients from 2001 to 2017. The major outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Of 34,651 patients with acute PE, 5,822 (17%) were aged &lt;50 years. Of these, 83 (1.4%) died during the first 30 days. Number of patients deemed low risk with tools was: PREP (95.9%), GPS (89.6%), PESI (87.2%), Shock index (70.9%), sPESI (59.4%), Prognostic algorithm (58%) and RIETE score (48.6%). The tools with a highest sensitivity were: Prognostic Algorithm (91.6%; 95% CI: 85.6\u201397.5), RIETE score (90.4%; 95%CI: 84.0\u201396.7) and sPESI (88%; 95% CI: 81\u201395). The RIETE, Prognostic Algorithm and sPESI scores obtained the highest overall sensitivity estimates for also predicting 7- and 90-day all-cause mortality, 30-day PE-related mortality, 30-day major bleeding and 30-day VTE recurrences. The proportion of low-risk patients who died within the first 30 days was lowest using the Prognostic Algorithm (0.2%), RIETE (0.3%) or sPESI (0.3%) scores. In PE patients less 50 years, 30-day mortality was low. Although sPESI, RIETE and Prognostic Algorithm scores were the most sensitive tools to identify patients at low risk to die, other tools should be evaluated in this population to obtain more efficient results

Impact of sex, age, and risk factors for venous thromboembolism on the initial presentation of first isolated symptomatic acute deep vein thrombosis

Thrombosis and Hemostasi

Impact of sex, age, and risk factors for venous thromboembolism on the initial presentation of first isolated symptomatic acute deep vein thrombosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sex-specific differences exist for the initial presentation of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE): men are more likely to present with proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs (versus pulmonary embolism [PE] or isolated distal DVT [IDDVT]) than women. We studied in detail the influence of sex, age, and VTE risk factors on the initial presentation of IDDVT versus proximal DVT. METHODS: A total of 24,911 patients with a first episode of objectively diagnosed acute symptomatic lower-limb DVT (without symptomatic PE) were enrolled in RIETE (years 2000-2017) and included in the present analysis. RESULTS: A total of 4266 (17.1%) patients had IDDVT. No trend for more IDDVT diagnoses was observed over time. Women aged 40-69 had a higher proportion of IDDVT, especially between 40 and 49 years (+6.7%; 95CI +3.7%; +9.9%), whereas men had more often proximal DVT. The presenting location of first acute DVT depended on sex, age, and the prevalence and type of VTE risk factors. Recent surgery was independently associated with a diagnosis of IDDVT in both women and men, whereas active cancer and pregnancy were associated with proximal DVT. CONCLUSIONS: The interaction between age and VTE risk factors influences the presenting location (distal versus proximal) of the first acute lower-limb DVT observed in women and men. Our observations extend to IDDVT the concept that different clinical manifestations of acute VTE may not fully share the same pathophysiological mechanisms: this contributes to explain sex-specific prognostic differences.status: publishe