Cancer and the risk of perioperative arterial ischaemic events

Most cancer patients require surgery for diagnosis and treatment. This study evaluated whether cancer is a risk factor for perioperative arterial ischaemic events.

The primary cohort included patients registered in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) between 2006 and 2016. The secondary cohort included Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) claims data from 11 US states between 2016 and 2018. Study populations comprised patients who underwent inpatient (NSQIP, HCUP) or outpatient (NSQIP) surgery. Study exposures were disseminated cancer (NSQIP) and all cancers (HCUP). The primary outcome was a perioperative arterial ischaemic event, defined as myocardial infarction or stroke diagnosed within 30 days after surgery.

Among 5 609 675 NSQIP surgeries, 2.2% involved patients with disseminated cancer. The perioperative arterial ischaemic event rate was 0.96% among patients with disseminated cancer vs. 0.48% among patients without (hazard ratio [HR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90–2.13). In Cox analyses adjusting for demographics, functional status, comorbidities, surgical specialty, anesthesia type, and clinical factors, disseminated cancer remained associated with higher risk of perioperative arterial ischaemic events (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.28–1.46). Among 1 341 658 surgical patients in the HCUP cohort, 11.8% had a diagnosis of cancer. A perioperative arterial ischaemic event was diagnosed in 0.74% of patients with cancer vs. 0.54% of patients without cancer (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.27–1.43). In Cox analyses adjusted for demographics, insurance, comorbidities, and surgery type, cancer remained associated with higher risk of perioperative arterial ischaemic events (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.21–1.42).

Cancer is an independent risk factor for perioperative arterial ischaemic events.