Acute pulmonary embolism and cancer: findings from the COPE study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute venous thromboembolism associated with cancer have an increased risk of recurrences and bleeding in the long term. RESEARCH QUESTION: To describe the clinical features and short-term course of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and active cancer, previous cancer or no cancer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with acute PE included in COPE-prospective, multicentre study of adult patients with acute, symptomatic, objectively diagnosed PE-were classified as having active cancer, previous cancer, or no cancer. RESULTS: Overall, 832 patients had active cancer, 464 with previous cancer and 3660 patients had no cancer at the time of acute PE. The most prevalent primary sites of active cancer were urogenital (23.0%), gastrointestinal (21.0%), and lung (19.8%), with a high prevalence of metastatic disease (57.6%) and ongoing anticancer treatment (16.2%). At discharge, a direct oral anticoagulant was used in 43.1%, 78.8%, and 82.0% of patients with active cancer, previous cancer, and no cancer, respectively. Rates of death in-hospital and at 30 days were higher in patients with active cancer compared to patients with previous cancer and no cancer (7.9% vs. 4.3% vs. 2.2% and 13.8% vs. 5.2% vs. 2.6%, respectively). Rates of major bleeding were 4.8%, 2.6%, and 2.4%, respectively. Among patients with active cancer, lung or metastatic cancer were independent predictors of death; brain, hematological or gastrointestinal cancer had the highest risk of major bleeding. INTERPRETATION: Among patients with acute PE, those with active cancer have high risks for death or major bleeding within 30 days. These risks vary based on primary site of cancer. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrial.gov identifier: NCT03631810.

Prevalence of pulmonary embolism among patients with recent onset of dyspnea on exertion. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Exertional dyspnea is a frequently encountered complaint in clinical practice. However, the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients with dyspnea on exertion has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of objectively confirmed PE among consecutive patients visiting an emergency department because of recent onset of exertional dyspnea. METHODS: Patients aged ≤75 years with recent (<1 month) marked exertional dyspnea had a systematic workup for PE, irrespective of concomitant signs or symptoms of venous thromboembolism and alternative explanations for dyspnea. PE was excluded on the basis of a low pretest clinical probability and normal age-adjusted D-dimer. All other patients had computed tomography pulmonary angiography. An interim analysis after inclusion of 400 patients would stop recruitment if the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the PE prevalence had a lower limit exceeding 20%. RESULTS: The study was prematurely terminated after the inclusion of 417 patients. In 134 patients (32.1%), PE was excluded based on low clinical probability and normal D-dimer. PE was found in 134 (47.3%) of the remaining 283 patients, for an overall prevalence of 32.1% (95% CI, 27.8-36.8). PE was present in 40 of 204 (19.6%) patients without other findings suspicious for PE and in 94 of 213 patients (44.1%) with such findings. PE involved a main pulmonary artery in 37% and multiple lobes in 87% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The angiographic demonstration of PE is common in patients presenting with recent onset of marked exertional dyspnea, including 20% without other findings suggesting pulmonary embolism.

Multidisciplinary Care for the Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer-Associated Thrombosis (CAT): Impact of Educational Interventions on CAT-Related Events and on Patients' and Clinicians' Awareness.

Cancer is a leading cause of death. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an often-overlooked cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients that can be readily prevented and treated. Actions are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients with cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). There is a need to increase awareness of the impact of CAT on cancer patients' morbidity and mortality, on their quality of life and to understand the importance of more effective preventions and treatments of VTE in cancer patients. Moreover, it is of great importance to systematically assess the risk of VTE in regard to patients, cancer and treatment-related factors. Unfortunately, there are unmet clinical needs in the prevention and treatment of cancer-associated VTE. In this review, we discuss an action plan to ensure an increased awareness of and education on the issues that need to be addressed in order to improve the provision of appropriate prevention, early diagnosis and effective and safe treatment of VTE to all cancer patients and, ultimately, to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Vascular risk assessment and management.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Methods: the integrated care pathways (ICPs) are tools through which evidence-based guidelines (GLs) on a specific disease or clinical topic can be implemented in a clinical process. Aim: This study aims to facilitate decision making for health professionals in their daily practice. Results: This model, according with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Guidelines, supports the multifactorial evaluation of global cardiovascular (CV) risk and suggests using algorithms and revised cardiovascular risk stratification, specifically for high- and very-high-risk patients. Conclusions: Multidimensional and integrated actions are aimed at eliminating and/or minimizing the impact of cardiovascular disease, improving the quality and consistency of vascular prevention, and leading to optimal clinical decisions.

Bleeding Risk in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at high risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE). Recently, antithrombotic therapies employing antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs have proven to be valid in reducing MACE in patients with PAD and polyvascular disease and MALE, particularly in patients who have already been revascularized and remain at increased risk of MALE. However, more aggressive antithrombotic therapies lead to an increased risk of bleeding. Antithrombotic therapy and revascularization procedures entail an increased hemorrhagic risk that is also linked to having received more vigorous antithrombotic therapies. Therefore, it appears crucial to have specifically targeted scores for a PAD patient to assess bleeding and thrombotic risks. The correct utilization of a risk score will determine the variable risk factors for bleeding that can be corrected or modified, as well as identify patients at high risk that require regular reexamination and follow-up. Clinical risk scores do not represent the absolute reality, and inter-score variability must be taken into account. Moreover, several risk scores have been created to be basic and to facilitate and improve clinical decisions in daily practice. Many risk scores based on points vary according to the configuration of the studies, population type, and ethnic group, and many of the risk factor elements in a specific score are unlikely to sustain same weight for that risk. The best approach continues to be devising an uncomplicated, functional, validated, and precise score that can be adjusted to different clinical contexts and populations, while considering the mutable composition of clinical risk.

Peripheral artery disease, the 'lost syndrome' during lockdown for COVID-19: A report of three cases.

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly increased the burden placed on healthcare systems worldwide. This health emergency has led to changes being implemented in the organization of health institutions and has shifted the focus on pandemic management. This has led to marked changes being made in the treatment of patients without COVID-19, and has resulted in more difficult access to healthcare, with ensuing delays in diagnosis and treatment. Vascular diseases, including peripheral artery disease (PAD), require prompt treatment in the majority of cases in order to save affected limbs. Moreover, COVID-19 may result in acute arterial and venous complications, which need to be promptly recognized and treated. The present study describes three paradigmatic clinical cases of hospitalized patients, which are representative of the different forms of the 'lost syndrome' caused by either the direct effect of COVID-19 or by the effects of COVID-19 on the healthcare system and lifestyle factors. Prophylaxis against arterial and venous thrombotic events is crucial in patients with COVID-19, particularly those with a marked inflammatory state. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has diminished the access to healthcare system for patients with other chronic pathologies, with potential severe consequences for vulnerable patient groups, such as those with PAD and cardiovascular diseases. For these patients, the authors' experience over the last few months suggests that more suitable measures need to be adopted to avoid additional severe consequences on public health. In addition, it is necessary to identify pathways that will allow these patients to have rapid access to treatment with marked improvements in outcome.