Cancer reports
Clinical Markers of Vulnerability for Bleeding in Men With Prostate Cancer and Antithrombotic Treatment
By Björkhem-Bergman L, Hedman C, Szilcz M and 1 others.
Abstract
Purpose
Men with prostate cancer have a high risk for bleeding when treated with antithrombotics. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical markers for vulnerability for bleeding in these men the last year of life.
Methods
This is a retrospective study on deceased patients with advanced prostate cancer admitted to specialized palliative care and treated with antithrombotics the last year of life. Relative risk (RR) was calculated with log-binomial models.
Results
Of 100 men with end-stage prostate cancer, 64 men were treated with antithrombotics. Twenty-four of these (37.5%) suffered from bleeding during the last year of life. Clinical markers associated with an increased vulnerability for bleeding were need of blood transfusion, RR 3.15 (95% CI: 1.34-7.39); low thrombocyte count, RR 2.41 (95% CI: 1.39-4.16); and deep venous thrombosis treatment, RR 2.44 (95% CI: 1.21-4.94). Age, type of antithrombotic, use of steroids, or NSAID were not risk factors. In 50%, antithrombotic treatment continued during the last week in life.