Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer

Background: Literature shows that atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a history of cancer have a higher risk of thromboembolism (TE) and major bleeding (MB) compared to patients without. However, cancer type and time between cancer and AF diagnosis is often lacking in such analyses. Objectives: T...

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Main Authors: Nienke van Rein, Gordon Chu, Menno V. Huisman, Lars Pedersen, Henrik T. Sørensen, Frederikus A. Klok, Suzanne C. Cannegieter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925000032
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author Nienke van Rein
Gordon Chu
Menno V. Huisman
Lars Pedersen
Henrik T. Sørensen
Frederikus A. Klok
Suzanne C. Cannegieter
author_facet Nienke van Rein
Gordon Chu
Menno V. Huisman
Lars Pedersen
Henrik T. Sørensen
Frederikus A. Klok
Suzanne C. Cannegieter
author_sort Nienke van Rein
collection DOAJ
description Background: Literature shows that atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a history of cancer have a higher risk of thromboembolism (TE) and major bleeding (MB) compared to patients without. However, cancer type and time between cancer and AF diagnosis is often lacking in such analyses. Objectives: To examine MB and TE rates of AF patients with a prior cancer diagnosis, stratified by cancer type and interval between cancer and AF diagnosis. Methods: This Danish population-based cohort study included all patients aged ≥50 years with incident AF between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2016, and identified those who had cancer before the AF diagnosis. From hospital and drug prescription databases, data on cancer type, time interval between cancer and AF diagnosis (ie, <1, 1-3, or >3 years), outcomes, and antithrombotic exposure were collected. Follow-up started from the AF diagnosis until the occurrence of an outcome or the end of the 2-year follow-up. Incidence rates (IRs) per 100 patient-years and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using Cox regression. Results: We identified 39,178 patients with incident AF and a prior cancer diagnosis. These patients demonstrated higher MB (IR, 3.35 [3.25-3.45] vs 2.23 [2.29-2.35]) and TE rates (IR, 3.21 [3.11-3.31] vs 2.53 [2.50-2.56]) than those without prior cancer. The higher MB risk in AF patients with a prior cancer diagnosis was observed in all examined time intervals, while a higher TE risk was only observed in those with a cancer diagnosis <1 year prior (aHR, 1.27 [1.16-1.40]). Prior respiratory cancer was associated with increased MB (aHR, 1.37 [1.26-1.48]) and TE risks (aHR, 1.26 [1.15-1.38]). Conclusion: A prior cancer diagnosis confers additional MB and, to a lesser extent and in certain conditions, thromboembolic risks in patients with AF. The type and timing of the prior cancer diagnosis determines the degree of risk.
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spelling doaj-art-835e3df96fd64e8aa7940562f67d03de2025-08-20T02:24:34ZengElsevierResearch and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis2475-03792025-02-019210267910.1016/j.rpth.2025.102679Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancerNienke van Rein0Gordon Chu1Menno V. Huisman2Lars Pedersen3Henrik T. Sørensen4Frederikus A. Klok5Suzanne C. Cannegieter6Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the NetherlandsDepartment of Medicine–Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; Correspondence Gordon Chu, Department of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands.Department of Medicine–Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Center for Population Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Medicine–Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Medicine–Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the NetherlandsBackground: Literature shows that atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a history of cancer have a higher risk of thromboembolism (TE) and major bleeding (MB) compared to patients without. However, cancer type and time between cancer and AF diagnosis is often lacking in such analyses. Objectives: To examine MB and TE rates of AF patients with a prior cancer diagnosis, stratified by cancer type and interval between cancer and AF diagnosis. Methods: This Danish population-based cohort study included all patients aged ≥50 years with incident AF between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2016, and identified those who had cancer before the AF diagnosis. From hospital and drug prescription databases, data on cancer type, time interval between cancer and AF diagnosis (ie, <1, 1-3, or >3 years), outcomes, and antithrombotic exposure were collected. Follow-up started from the AF diagnosis until the occurrence of an outcome or the end of the 2-year follow-up. Incidence rates (IRs) per 100 patient-years and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using Cox regression. Results: We identified 39,178 patients with incident AF and a prior cancer diagnosis. These patients demonstrated higher MB (IR, 3.35 [3.25-3.45] vs 2.23 [2.29-2.35]) and TE rates (IR, 3.21 [3.11-3.31] vs 2.53 [2.50-2.56]) than those without prior cancer. The higher MB risk in AF patients with a prior cancer diagnosis was observed in all examined time intervals, while a higher TE risk was only observed in those with a cancer diagnosis <1 year prior (aHR, 1.27 [1.16-1.40]). Prior respiratory cancer was associated with increased MB (aHR, 1.37 [1.26-1.48]) and TE risks (aHR, 1.26 [1.15-1.38]). Conclusion: A prior cancer diagnosis confers additional MB and, to a lesser extent and in certain conditions, thromboembolic risks in patients with AF. The type and timing of the prior cancer diagnosis determines the degree of risk.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925000032anticoagulantsatrial fibrillationhemorrhageneoplasmsthromboembolism
spellingShingle Nienke van Rein
Gordon Chu
Menno V. Huisman
Lars Pedersen
Henrik T. Sørensen
Frederikus A. Klok
Suzanne C. Cannegieter
Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
anticoagulants
atrial fibrillation
hemorrhage
neoplasms
thromboembolism
title Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
title_full Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
title_fullStr Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
title_full_unstemmed Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
title_short Major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation/flutter and a history of cancer
title_sort major bleeding and thromboembolism risks of antithrombotic treatment in patients with incident atrial fibrillation flutter and a history of cancer
topic anticoagulants
atrial fibrillation
hemorrhage
neoplasms
thromboembolism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925000032
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