Background: Clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) is an important safety outcome in clinical studies of venous thromboembolism (VTE) as it incurs time consuming management, a decreased perception of quality of life, and important healthcare costs. However, reliable estimates for the long-term risk of CRNMB among patients with unprovoked VTE that are receiving extended anticoagulation are lacking.
Aims: To determine the incidence of CRNMB during extended anticoagulation of up to 5 years among patients with a first unprovoked VTE.
Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and the the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched for
randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies reporting CRNMB events (as defined by the Internatinal Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis or by the individual studies) among patients with a first unprovoked VTE who were to receive oral anticoagulation for a minimum of 6 additional months after completing at least 3 months of initial anticoagulant treatment. Unpublished data required for analyses were obtained from authors of included studies.
Results: Among the 8 RCTs and 7 cohort studies included in the analysis, 8443 patients received a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and 6838 received a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). The incidence of CRNMB per 100 person-years was 6.48 events (95% CI, 4.69 to 8.55 events) with VKAs and 5.01 events (95% CI, 3.71 to 6.49 events) with DOACs. The 5-year cumulative incidence of CRNMB with VKAs was 21.7% (95% CI, 8.9% to 40.0%) [Table 1]. Data were insufficient to estimate incidence of CRNMB beyond 2 years of extended anticoagulation with DOACs.
Conclusion(s): In patients receiving extended oral anticoagulation for unprovoked VTE, the long-term risk of CRNMB is substantial. This risk may be important to consider in determining treatment duration for patients in whom the risk-benefit ratio of major bleeding and recurrent VTE is closely balanced.
Table
Table: Incidence of Clinically Relevant Non-Major Bleeding.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Khan F, Tritschler T, Wells P, Le Gal G, Rodger M, Fergusson D. Long-Term Risk of Clinically Relevant Non-Major Bleeding During Extended Anticoagulation for Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [abstract]. https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/long-term-risk-of-clinically-relevant-non-major-bleeding-during-extended-anticoagulation-for-unprovoked-venous-thromboembolism-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/. Accessed November 30, 2023.« Back to ISTH 2022 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/long-term-risk-of-clinically-relevant-non-major-bleeding-during-extended-anticoagulation-for-unprovoked-venous-thromboembolism-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/