Key result
Major cancer surgery is linked to up to ~3% higher absolute one-year pulmonary embolism risk.
Why the study?
The risks and benefits of thromboprophylaxis therapy after cancer surgery are debated, and studies determining thrombosis risk after cancer surgery with high accuracy are needed.
Does major surgery for cancer increase the risk of venous thromboembolic events compared to the general population?
Population
432 218 patients after major cancer surgery and 4 009 343 matched cancer-free comparators in Sweden
Comparison
Major surgery for cancer vs matched cancer-free general population comparators
Design
Register-based retrospective observational matched cohort study
Follow-up
1 year
Authors
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May support individualized extended prophylaxis after cancer surgery; leaves open optimal duration and regimens for randomized trials.
Cohort (n=4,441,561)
Yes
Does major surgery for cancer increase the risk of venous thromboembolic events compared to the general population?
Major cancer surgery is associated with a significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism that peaks shortly after discharge and persists for 2 to 4 months, highlighting the need for individualized prophylaxis.
Björklund et al. (2024) conducted a cohort in Cancer (n=4,441,561). Major surgery for cancer vs. Cancer-free matched general population was evaluated on Incidence of venous thromboembolic events within 1 year after the surgery. Major surgery for cancer increased the 1-year risk of pulmonary embolism compared to matched comparators, with absolute risk differences ranging from 0.57 to 2.69 percentage points.
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