COVID-19 and thrombotic risk in patients with active cancer: a matched cohort study

COVID-19 has been associated with an increased thrombotic risk, potentially exacerbated in patients with active cancer. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 119 cancer patients with COVID-19 and 214 matched pre-pandemic controls. Patients with COVID-19 had poorer performance status and were more frequently treated with palliative intent. After a median follow-up of 32.7 months, overall thrombotic event rates did not differ between groups. However, after adjustment for clinically relevant covariates and accounting for death as a competing event, COVID-19 status and palliative treatment intent remained independently associated with a higher cumulative incidence of thrombotic events. In conclusion, COVID-19 may increase thrombotic risk in patients with cancer and occurs more frequently in patients with poorer clinical status. These findings are exploratory and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.