A ten-year comparison of treatment and outcomes of cancer-associated thrombosis to non-cancer venous thromboembolism: from traditional anticoagulants to direct oral anticoagulants.

DOACs have emerged as first-line treatment in most cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), representing a paradigm shift in its management. However, CAT management remains challenging and requires careful risk-benefit considerations. A retrospective analysis of CAT presentations to a tertiary referral centre from January 2011 to December 2020. Outcomes in CAT patients were compared to VTE patients without malignancy. Subgroup analysis was also conducted for CAT according to anticoagulation type. 514 CAT cases from 491 patients were identified from 3230 total VTE cases. CAT patients had higher rates of major VTE (PE and/or proximal DVT) compared to patients without malignancy (78.4% vs. 66.8%, p < 0.001). CAT patients also had higher rates of VTE recurrence (HR 1.66, 95%CI 1.23-2.26), major bleeding (HR 3.41, 95%CI 2.36-4.93), VTE-related mortality (HR 2.59, 95%CI 1.46-4.62) and bleeding-related mortality (HR 2.66, 95%CI 1.05-6.73). There were no significant differences in rates of VTE recurrence, major bleeding, VTE-related mortality or fatal bleeding between CAT patients treated with DOACs, enoxaparin or warfarin. In the subgroup of CAT treated with DOACs, there was no significant difference in rates of GI bleeding compared to the enoxaparin subgroup (HR 0.17, 95%CI 0.02-1.26). CAT was associated with a larger clot burden and higher rates of VTE recurrence, major bleeding and mortality compared to VTE patients without malignancy in this large real-world study. This study demonstrated no significant differences in complication rates for CAT patients treated with DOACs over enoxaparin, suggesting that DOACs can be safely used in most cases of CAT.

Management of venous thromboembolism in morbidly obese patients: a 10-year review.

Obesity is a known risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and poses a unique set of challenges in anticoagulation management. We report a 10-year experience of VTE management in morbidly obese patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of VTE presentations to Northern Health, Victoria, Australia, from January 2011 to December 2020, with median follow-up of 44 months. Morbidly obese patients (defined as weighing > 120 kg) were compared to those ≤ 120 kg. Patients with active malignancy were excluded. 194 VTE cases with weight > 120 kg were compared to 2168 cases weighing ≤ 120 kg. Patients > 120 kg were more likely to present with unprovoked VTE (59.3% vs. 45.2%, p < 0.001) and major VTE (74.7% vs. 67.4%, p = 0.028). Overall, patients > 120 kg were more likely to develop VTE recurrence after anticoagulation cessation (7.80 vs. 3.92 per 100-patient-years, HR 1.97, 95%CI 1.29-3.00), while there were no significant differences in major bleeding or 30-day all-cause mortality. There were no significant differences in outcomes in patients > 120 kg treated with warfarin compared to direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), or when comparing those treated with an uncapped (1 mg/kg BD) vs. capped (< 1 mg/kg) enoxaparin dosing regimen. Morbid obesity is associated with increased clot burden at presentation and VTE recurrence following anticoagulation cessation, without significant differences in bleeding compared to those ≤ 120 kg. There were no significant differences in morbidly obese patients' outcomes when treated with warfarin or DOAC, or when treated with an uncapped or capped enoxaparin dosing strategy. Larger randomised controlled trials evaluating the safety of DOACs and different enoxaparin dosing strategies in patients > 120 kg are warranted.

A ten-year review of the impact of the transition from warfarin to direct oral anticoagulant - Has venous thromboembolism treatment become safer?

BACKGROUND: The introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) has resulted in a paradigm shift in the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We evaluate the impact of the transition to DOAC, over the last decade, on overall VTE clinical outcomes including in first unprovoked major VTEs. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of all VTE admissions in non-cancer patients from January 2011 to December 2020 at Northern Health, Victoria, Australia. "Warfarin era" included events that occurred between January 2011 and December 2014 and "DOAC era" from January 2016. RESULTS: There were 2687 cases involving 2508 patients (45.9 % males; median age 63 years). 98 % were symptomatic and 1261 events (47 %) were unprovoked. 1003 events occurred during the warfarin era (79 % warfarin, 6 % DOAC) and 1479 during the DOAC era (18 % warfarin, 70 % DOAC). While recurrent thrombosis during the acute phase of treatment was comparable, there were fewer recurrences during the long-term preventative phase of treatment in the DOAC era compared to warfarin era (HR 0.602, 95 % CI: 0.393-0.924, p0.020). Clinically significant bleeding events were lower in the DOAC era (HR 0.623, 95 % CI: 0.395-0.985, p = 0.043). A subanalysis of first unprovoked major VTE events (n = 602) demonstrated a significant reduction in recurrent VTE during the long-term preventative phase of treatment in the DOAC era (HR 0.296, 95 % CI: 0.097-0.901, p = 0.032) with no difference in clinically significantly bleeding rates (HR 0.529, 95 % CI 0.219-1.280, p = 0.158) between the eras. CONCLUSION: Treatment outcomes for VTE appear to have improved over time with reduced rate of thrombotic and clinically significant bleeding complications in the DOAC era.

Global coagulation assays in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: There is significant heterogeneity in the incidence and severity of diabetes-associated vascular complications and there is no routine biomarker that accurately predicts these outcomes. This pilot study investigates the role of global coagulation assays in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with diabetes not on anticoagulation or dialysis and without active malignancy were recruited from endocrinology clinics. Blood samples were collected for global coagulation assays including thromboelastography (TEG), thrombin generation using calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT), and fibrin generation and fibrinolysis using the overall hemostatic potential (OHP) assay. The results were compared with healthy controls. RESULTS: A total of 147 adult patients including 19 with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), 120 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and eight with latent autoimmune diabetes were recruited. Compared with 153 healthy controls, patients with diabetes demonstrated higher maximum amplitude (68.6 vs 60.2 mm, p < 0.001) on TEG, and higher OHP (9.3 vs 6.4, p < 0.001) with comparable CAT parameters. Patients with T2DM were more hypercoagulable than those with T1DM on most biomarkers. Higher maximum amplitude, velocity index, and OHP were associated with increased risk of complications (C-stat 0.82). Patients with history of microvascular complications appear to have more hypercoagulable thrombin and fibrin generation than those without. CONCLUSION: Patients with diabetes have more hypercoagulable profiles on global coagulation assays, particularly patients with T2DM and those with microvascular complications. Further studies with longitudinal follow-up are ongoing to evaluate the utility of global coagulation assays in predicting long-term patient outcomes.

Empowering families facing end-stage nonmalignant chronic diseases with a holistic, transdisciplinary, community-based intervention: 3 months outcome of the Life Rainbow Program.

OBJECTIVES: Families facing end-stage nonmalignant chronic diseases (NMCDs) are presented with similar symptom burdens and need for psycho-social-spiritual support as their counterparts with advanced cancers. However, NMCD patients tend to face more variable disease trajectories, and thus may require different anticipatory supports, delivered in familiar environments. The Life Rainbow Programme (LRP) provides holistic, transdisciplinary, community-based end-of-life care for patients with NMCDs and their caregivers. This paper reports on the 3-month outcomes using a single-group, pre-post comparison. METHOD: Patients with end-stage NMCDs were screened for eligibility by a medical team before being referred to the LRP. Patients were assessed at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), and 3 months (T2) using the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS). Their hospital use in the previous month was also measured by presentations at accident and emergency services, admissions to intensive care units, and number of hospital bed-days. Caregivers were assessed at T0 and T2 using the Chinese version of the Modified Caregiver Strain Index, and self-reported health, psychological, spiritual, and overall well-being. Over-time changes in outcomes for patients, and caregivers, were tested using paired-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon-signed rank tests, and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients and 36 caregivers participated in this research study. Patients reported significant improvements in all IPOS domains at both 1 and 3 months [ranging from Cohen's d = 0.495 (nausea) to 1.793 (depression and information needs fulfilled)]. Average hospital bed-days in the previous month fell from 3.50 to 1.68, comparing baseline and 1 month (p < 0.05). At 3 months, caregiver strain was significantly reduced (r = 0.332), while spiritual well-being was enhanced (r = 0.333). SIGNIFICANCE: After receiving 3 month's LRP services, patients with end-stage NMCDs and their caregivers experienced significant improvements in the quality of life and well-being, and their hospital bed-days were reduced.

A pilot evaluation of Arthritis Self-Management Program by lay leaders in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis in Hong Kong.

The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the efficacy of a community-based lay-led Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) among patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis and evaluate the effectiveness of "shared care collaboration" between hospital and community. We trained 17 lay leaders and recruited patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis via a new shared-care model between hospital rheumatology centers and community organizations. Participants were allocated to interventional group or a wait list control group. Evaluations were completed before, after (6 weeks), and 3 months after ASMP. We performed analysis of covariance with adjustment with age, sex, marital status, education, employment, duration of illness, and disability at baseline. A total of 65 participants and 32 controls completed the study. The mean (SD) age and duration of illness were 52.0 (11.4) and 5.6 (7.3) years, 90.7 % were female, 80.4 % had rheumatoid arthritis; 25.8, 53.6, and 12.4 % referrals were from hospitals, community organizations, and patient self-help groups, respectively. The interventional group had significantly less pain (p = 0.049 at 6 weeks), used more cognitive coping methods (p = 0.008 at 6 weeks, p = 0.041 at 3 months) and practiced more aerobic exercise (p = 0.049 at 6 weeks, p = 0.008 at 3 months) after adjustment of covariance. The interventional group had a trend of improvement in self-efficacy, fatigue, self-rated health, and health distress. A community-based lay-led ASMP showed positive beneficial effects on participants with chronic inflammatory arthritis. Shared-care collaboration between hospitals, community organizations, and patient self-help groups was demonstrated.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment groups for people with chronic physical illness in Hong Kong: reflections on a culturally attuned model.

This study describes and evaluates a cognitive-behavioral treatment group for people with chronic physical illness in Hong Kong. We developed a group protocol based on the understanding that Chinese people generally prefer a structured group format, expect group leaders to be active and directive, and are not used to expressing opinions and emotions in groups. The experimental and waitlist control groups had 38 and 35 participants, respectively. A standardized questionnaire was administered to all participants before and after the group treatment. Results suggest that members of the experimental group showed improvements in mental health, negative automatic thoughts, and negative emotions when compared to those in the waitlist control groups, and at the end of group treatment. Implications for designing and running a culturally attuned CBT group for Chinese people are discussed.