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Comparison of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: a Swedish national population-based register study

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Published in:

Open Access 12-05-2024 | Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Comparison of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: a Swedish national population-based register study

Authors: Marie Linder, Anders Ekbom, Gunnar Brobert, Kai Vogtländer, Yanina Balabanova, Cecilia Becattini, Marc Carrier, Alexander T. Cohen, Craig I. Coleman, Alok A. Khorana, Agnes Y. Y. Lee, George Psaroudakis, Khaled Abdelgawwad, Marcela Rivera, Bernhard Schaefer, Diego Hernan Giunta

Published in: Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis | Issue 6/2024

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Abstract

Background

Treating cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) with anticoagulation prevents recurrent venous thromboembolism (rVTE), but increases bleeding risk.

Objectives

To compare incidence of rVTE, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality for rivaroxaban versus low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with CAT.

Methods

We developed a cohort study using Swedish national registers 2013–2019. Patients with CAT (venous thromboembolism within 6 months of cancer diagnosis) were included. Those with other indications or with high bleeding risk cancers were excluded (according to guidelines). Follow-up was from index-CAT until outcome, death, emigration, or end of study. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years with 95% confidence interval (CI) and propensity score overlap-weighted hazard ratios (HRs) for rivaroxaban versus LMWH were estimated.

Results

We included 283 patients on rivaroxaban and 5181 on LMWH. The IR for rVTE was 68.7 (95% CI 40.0–109.9) for rivaroxaban, compared with 91.6 (95% CI 81.9–102.0) for LMWH, with adjusted HR 0.77 (95% CI 0.43–1.35). The IR for major bleeding was 23.5 (95% CI 8.6–51.1) for rivaroxaban versus 49.2 (95% CI 42.3–56.9) for LMWH, with adjusted HR 0.62 (95% CI 0.26–1.49). The IR for all-cause mortality was 146.8 (95% CI 103.9–201.5) for rivaroxaban and 565.6 (95% CI 541.8–590.2) for LMWH with adjusted HR 0.48 (95% CI 0.34–0.67).

Conclusions

Rivaroxaban performed similarly to LMWH for patients with CAT for rVTE and major bleeding. An all-cause mortality benefit was observed for rivaroxaban which potentially may be attributed to residual confounding.

Trial registration number

NCT05150938 (Registered 9 December 2021).
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Comparison of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: a Swedish national population-based register study
Authors
Marie Linder
Anders Ekbom
Gunnar Brobert
Kai Vogtländer
Yanina Balabanova
Cecilia Becattini
Marc Carrier
Alexander T. Cohen
Craig I. Coleman
Alok A. Khorana
Agnes Y. Y. Lee
George Psaroudakis
Khaled Abdelgawwad
Marcela Rivera
Bernhard Schaefer
Diego Hernan Giunta
Publication date
12-05-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis / Issue 6/2024
Print ISSN: 0929-5305
Electronic ISSN: 1573-742X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-024-02992-1