Bleeding in anticoagulated patients ‘might flag cancer’
Emerging evidence suggests patients with AF who have a bleed should probably be investigated for malignancy, cardiologists warn
Bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulants frequently unmasks occult cancer, suggesting prompt testing for malignancy is warranted, researchers say.
An observational study of almost 8800 patients older than 75 taking non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants or warfarin found those experiencing a bleeding episode had a threefold higher risk of subsequent new cancer diagnosis compared with those who did not have a bleed.
