Gender differences in cancer patients with acute venous thromboembolism

Abstract

Background: The outcome of cancer patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) may differ according to gender.

Methods: We used the RIETE database to compare the rate of VTE (pulmonary embolism [PE] or deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) recurrences), major bleeding and mortality during the course of anticoagulation, according to gender.

Results: As of August 2014, 11,055 patients with active cancer were enrolled in RIETE, of whom 5,104 (46%) were women. During the course of anticoagulation (mean: 142 days), 505 patients developed recurrent VTE, 429 bled and 2730 died. Compared with men, women had a significantly lower rate of fatal bleeding (risk ratio [RR]: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47-0.99) and death (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.83-0.97), and a non-significantly lower rate of PE recurrences (RR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.65-1.06) and major bleeding (RR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.74-1.08).

Conclusions: During the course of anticoagulation, cancer women with VTE had a better outcome than men.

Keywords: Anticoagulant drugs; Cancer; Gender; Hemorrhage; Mortality; Recurrence; Venous thromboembolism.