This meta-analysis aimed to identify risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with lung cancer. The authors concluded that patients with adenocarcinoma, advanced disease and undergoing chemotherapy were at a higher risk of VTE.

Venous thromboembolism (blood clots in veins) can occur at a higher rate in people with lung cancer, and can affect the chance of survival and disrupt treatment. In order to prevent, diagnose and treat VTE effectively, physicians need to know what subsets of patients are at a higher risk of VTE. Previous studies have suggested that the stage of the cancer, recent surgery, chemotherapy and a high platelet count can all affect the risk of VTE in lung cancer patients, however none of these studies gave definite results or data.

In this study, authors used patient information from 4 UK healthcare databases to identify the risk factors for VTE in lung cancer patients. The authors included lung cancer patients who underwent regular follow-ups until a VTE event occurred or the patient died. The data was then combined and common risk factors were reported.

364 out of 10,598 lung cancer patients had a VTE event. The most common VTE events reported were included in patients with adenocarcinoma, who had double the risk of VTE than patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with advanced disease that had spread to other parts of the body had 90% greater risk than patients with localized disease. Patients undergoing chemotherapy had just over double the risk of VTE compared to patients not undergoing treatment. Finally, patients who were diagnosed upon emergency admission to hospital had a 70% greater risk than those admitting voluntarily. There was a 50% increased risk of death in lung cancer patients with VTE. 

The authors concluded that lung cancer patients are at a higher risk of VTE if they have advanced disease, adenocarcinoma or are undergoing chemotherapy. They also reported that patients with VTE have a higher risk of death.