Patient's Awareness of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Canadian Nationwide Survey

Ana C. Pizzarossa; Andrea Penaloza; Kristina Vrotniakaite-Bajerciene; Rufaro Chitsike; Vicky Tagalakis; Susan Calverley; Marc Carrier

doi:10.1055/a-2635-9296

TH Open, Table of Contents

CC BY 4.0 · TH Open 2025; 09: a26359296
DOI: 10.1055/a-2635-9296

Original Article

Patient's Awareness of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Canadian Nationwide Survey

Authors

Ana C. Pizzarossa

¹Hemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Hospital de Clínicas “Dr Manuel Quintela,” Montevideo, Uruguay

²Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada
Andrea Penaloza

²Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada

³Emergency Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
Kristina Vrotniakaite-Bajerciene

²Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada

⁴Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Rufaro Chitsike

⁵Division of Medicine (Hematology), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Vicky Tagalakis

⁶Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Susan Calverley

⁷Thrombosis Canada, Ontario, Canada
Marc Carrier

²Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Background

Approximately 20% of patients with cancer will have cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical importance, CAT awareness in cancer patients and caregivers remains low. We sought to assess the patients' knowledge of CAT through a national survey.

Materials and Methods

A survey assessing knowledge of different aspects of CAT was developed by a steering committee including four clinicians with expertise in CAT and a patient partner with lived experience. Survey dissemination among patients with cancer occurred through the Environics network, the Thrombosis Canada member network, the Thrombosis Canada social media platforms, and was advertised through Instagram and Facebook, and the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network newsletter.

Results

Out of the 312 patients with cancer or survivors who responded to the survey, 179 (57.4%) were female, and 118 (37.8%) were over 65 years old. Overall, 119 patients (38.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.7–49.8%) reported having no knowledge of CAT. Only 84 (26.9%, 95% CI: 22.1–32.2%) and 94 (30.1%, 95% CI: 25.1–35.6%) patients reported receiving education about their underlying risk of CAT or education about signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism, respectively. A total of 66 (21%, 95% CI: 16.8–26.1%) patients reported being informed by a health care professional about considering thromboprophylaxis. Patients were interested in learning more about the risk of CAT, its associated risk factors, and the benefits and potential side effects of thromboprophylaxis.

Conclusion

Many patients with cancer lack awareness or knowledge of CAT. Our results highlight ongoing education and awareness of the CAT burden.

Keywords

venous thrombosis - venous thromboembolism - pulmonary embolism - neoplasias - anticoagulants

Bibliographical Record
Ana C. Pizzarossa, Andrea Penaloza, Kristina Vrotniakaite-Bajerciene, Rufaro Chitsike, Vicky Tagalakis, Susan Calverley, Marc Carrier. Patient's Awareness of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Canadian Nationwide Survey. TH Open 2025; 09: a26359296.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2635-9296

Full Text

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