Impact of Blood Clots on Ovarian Cancer Survival
Author Information
Author(s): Tetsche Mette S, Nørgaard Mette, Pedersen Lars, Lash Timothy L, Sørensen Henrik T
Primary Institution: Aarhus University Hospital
Hypothesis
Does venous thromboembolism (VTE) affect the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients?
Conclusion
Ovarian cancer diagnosed less than four months before VTE is associated with an advanced stage and a poorer prognosis.
Supporting Evidence
- 50 ovarian cancer patients were diagnosed less than 4 months after VTE.
- One-year survival was 44% for patients diagnosed less than 4 months after VTE.
- Advanced stages were more common among patients with VTE.
Takeaway
If someone has ovarian cancer and gets a blood clot, it might mean their cancer is worse and they might not live as long.
Methodology
A nationwide registry-based cohort study in Denmark analyzing ovarian cancer patients diagnosed from 1980 to 2003.
Potential Biases
Potential surveillance bias due to increased monitoring of patients with VTE.
Limitations
The study lacked information on treatment details and the validity of VTE diagnoses may be misclassified in 10-20% of cases.
Participant Demographics
Patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Denmark, median age 67 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.7 (95% CI = 1.2–2.5) for less than 4 months after VTE; 1.2 (95% CI = 0.8–1.7) for more than 4 months after VTE.
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.2–2.5 for less than 4 months; 95% CI = 0.8–1.7 for more than 4 months.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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