Key result
Primary malignant brain tumors are linked to ~22-fold higher first-year VTE risk vs matched controls.
Why the study?
Elevated standardized mortality ratio of cardiovascular diseases in patients with brain tumours may result from differences in CVD incidences and risk factors, requiring comparison to matched general population cohorts.
Does a diagnosis of primary malignant or non-malignant brain tumour increase the risk of major vascular events and VTE compared to a matched general population?
Cohort (n=40,585)
Does a diagnosis of primary malignant or non-malignant brain tumour increase the risk of major vascular events and VTE compared to a matched general population?
Hazard Ratio: 21.58 (95% CI 16.12–28.88)
Absolute Event Rate: 106.7% vs 4.9%
p-value: p=<0.001
Patients with primary brain tumours face a substantially elevated risk of VTE and stroke, especially in the first year after diagnosis, highlighting the importance of cardiovascular risk management in this population.
High VTE risk in year one after malignant brain tumour diagnosis supports closer monitoring; leaves open optimal prophylaxis strategies pending trials.
BACKGROUND: Elevated standardised mortality ratio of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with brain tumours may result from differences in the CVD incidences and cardiovascular risk factors. We compared the risk of CVD among patients with a primary malignant or non-malignant brain tumour to a matched general population cohort, accounting for other co-morbidities. METHODS: Using data from the Secured Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank in Wales (United Kingdom), we identified all adults aged ≥ 18 years in the primary care database with first diagnosis of malignant or non-malignant brain tumour identified in the cancer registry in 2000-2014 and a matched cohort (case-to-control ratio 1:5) by age, sex and primary care provider from the general population without any cancer diagnosis. Outcomes included fatal and non-fatal major vascular events (stroke, ischaemic heart disease, aortic and peripheral vascular diseases) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). We used multivariable Cox models adjusted for clinical risk factors to compare risks, stratified by tumour behaviour (malignant or non-malignant) and follow-up period. RESULTS: There were 2869 and 3931 people diagnosed with malignant or non-malignant brain tumours, respectively, between 2000 and 2014 in Wales. They were matched to 33,785 controls. Within the first year of tumour diagnosis, malignant tumour was associated with a higher risk of VTE (hazard ratio [HR] 21.58, 95% confidence interval 16.12-28.88) and stroke (HR 3.32, 2.44-4.53). After the first year, the risks of VTE (HR 2.20, 1.52-3.18) and stroke (HR 1.45, 1.00-2.10) remained higher than controls. Patients with non-malignant tumours had higher risks of VTE (HR 3.72, 2.73-5.06), stroke (HR 4.06, 3.35-4.93) and aortic and peripheral arterial disease (HR 2.09, 1.26-3.48) within the first year of diagnosis compared with their controls. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated CVD and VTE risks suggested risk reduction may be a strategy to improve life quality and survival in people with a brain tumour.
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Poon et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Primary malignant or non-malignant brain tumour (n=40,585). Primary malignant brain tumour diagnosis vs. Matched general population without cancer was evaluated on Venous thromboembolism (VTE) within the first year of diagnosis (HR 21.58, 95% CI 16.12-28.88, p=<0.001). A diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumour was associated with a markedly increased risk of venous thromboembolism (HR 21.58) within the first year compared to matched controls.
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