Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Stage III and IV Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Nationwide Descriptive Cohort Study

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients starting cancer therapies for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We examined the risk and timing of VTE in patients with stage IIIA, IIIB to C, and stage IV NSCLC according to received cancer treatments.

Materials and Methods

A nationwide registry-based cohort study of patients recorded in the Danish Lung Cancer Registry (2010-2021) followed for 1 year after entry into the registry to assess the incidence of VTE. The Aalen–Johansen estimator was used to calculate the risk of VTE after treatment commencement with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Results

Among the 3475 patients with stage IIIA, 4047 with stage IIIB to C, and 18,082 patients with stage IV cancer, the 1-year risk of VTE was highest in the first 6 months and varied markedly by cancer stage and cancer treatment. In stage IIIA, VTE risk was highest with chemotherapy (3.9%) and chemoradiation (4.1%). In stage IIIB to C, risks increased with chemotherapy (5.2%), immunotherapy (9.4%), and targeted therapy (6.0%). Stage IV NSCLC showed high risk with targeted therapy (12.5%) and immunotherapy (12.2%). The risk was consistently higher for pulmonary embolism than deep vein thrombosis.

Conclusion

VTE risks vary substantially according to cancer treatments and cancer stages. The highest risk was observed in the initial 6 months of therapy initiation. These insights emphasize the need for tailored risk assessment and vigilance in managing VTE complications in patients with NSCLC. Further research is needed to optimize individual thromboprophylaxis strategies for patients with unresectable and metastatic NSCLC.