Abstract Number: PB0937
Meeting: ISTH 2022 Congress
Theme: Venous Thromboembolism » Cancer Associated Thrombosis
Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) presents a challenge in the management of cancer patients and is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Bladder cancer (BC) patients are at high risk of VTE; however, the problem is not well quantified. Patients’ awareness of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) early in their cancer pathway has hitherto been neglected.
Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the scope of VTE in patients with BC in the UK and explore patients’ understanding of CAT from their experience of having BC and treatment.
Methods: A sequential mixed-methods study was applied: i) quantitative to explore the incidence and risk factors for VTE in BC, by cohort and case-control analysis, followed by ii) qualitative through semi-structured interviews among patients with BC and healthcare professionals (HCPs), utilising thematic analysis.
Results: VTE incidence in patients with BC was around 6.0 per 1000 from national datasets, lower than previously published. Cystectomy and stage IV disease significantly increased the risk of VTE in BC patients; adjusted odds ratio (OR); OR 2.88 (95% CI 1.63-5.07), P < 0.001 and OR 4.41 (95%CI 1.85-10.50), P=0.002, respectively, while chemotherapy was found to have borderline significance as a risk factor; OR 2.56 (95% CI 1.03-6.32), P=0.041. Patients had a lack of awareness of CAT; they received limited education on VTE. Three major themes emerged from the interviews: ‘it’s all about the cancer’ (CAT was not a priority for patients with BC or HCPs), ‘a labyrinthine process’ (information about VTE was bewildering and compartmentalised along the cancer continuum of care) and ‘improving the poor deal’ (patients’ and HCPs’ offered suggestions to improve communication around CAT).
Conclusion(s): VTE is an important clinical problem in patients with BC. HCPs can build on the findings of VTE-BC to improve individualised CAT care through multidisciplinary inclusion of CAT discussion during patient encounters.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Abdullah O, Young A, Parashar D, Ignatowicz A. Venous Thromboembolism in Bladder Cancer:Scope of the Problem and Patients’ Perspectives(VTE-BC) [abstract]. https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/venous-thromboembolism-in-bladder-cancerscope-of-the-problem-and-patients-perspectivesvte-bc/. Accessed March 22, 2024.« Back to ISTH 2022 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/venous-thromboembolism-in-bladder-cancerscope-of-the-problem-and-patients-perspectivesvte-bc/