Thrombophilia and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in older patients.

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist on thrombophilic risk factors and clinical outcomes in the elderly with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence of laboratory thrombophilic risk factors and their association with VTE recurrence or death in a cohort of elderly people with VTE.

METHODS

In 240 patients aged ≥65 years with acute VTE without active cancer or an indication for extended anticoagulation, we performed laboratory thrombophilia testing 1 year after the index VTE. Recurrence or death was assessed during the 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 78% of patients had ≥1 laboratory thrombophilic risk factor(s). Elevated levels of von Willebrand factor, homocysteine, coagulant activity of factor VIII (FVIII:C), fibrinogen, FIX:C, and low antithrombin activity were the most prevalent risk factors (43%, 30%, 15%, 14%, 13%, and 11%, respectively). Additionally, 16.2% of patients experienced VTE recurrence and 5.8% of patients died. Patients with a von Willebrand factor of >182%, FVIII:C level >200%, homocysteine level >15μmol/L, or lupus anticoagulant had a significantly higher rate of recurrence than those without these risk factors (15.0 vs. 6.1 [ = .006], 23.5 vs. 8.2 [ = .01], 17.0 vs. 6.8 [ = .006], and 89.5 vs. 9.2 [ = .02] events per 100 patient-years, respectively). Furthermore, patients with a high fibrinogen level or hyperhomocysteinemia with a homocysteine level ≥30 μmol/L had significantly higher mortality than patients with normal levels (18.5 vs. 2.8 [ = .049] and 13.6 vs. 2 [ = .002] deaths per 100 patient-years, respectively). After adjustments for relevant confounders, these associations remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Laboratory thrombophilic risk factors are common in elderly people with VTE and allow for the identification of a population at the risk of worse clinical outcomes.