Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism in Patient Starting Chemotherapy

 

NOTE: The authors did not create a risk score. The score below is one way to use the data included in the paper.

 

Parameters:

(1) platelet count prior to chemotherapy

(2) site of cancer

(3) use of WBC growth factor (granulocyte colony stimulating factor, CSF)

(4) hemoglobin and erythropoietin therapy

Parameter	Finding	Points
platelet count prior to chemotherapy	< 350,000 per µL	0
	>= 350,000 per µL	3
site of cancer	upper GI tract (gastric, pancreas, hepatobiliary)	4
	lung	2
	other	0
use of WBC CSF	absent	0
	present	2
hemoglobin and erythropoietin	hemoglobin >= 10 g/dL AND erythropoietin not used	0
	hemoglobin < 10 g/dL OR erythropoietin therapy	2

 

where:

• The points assigned in the table are based on the odds ratios shown in Table 3, rounded to an integer.

• The hemoglobin may be at any time, rather than the level prior to chemotherapy.

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 13 (if the patient has multiple cancers)

• The higher the score the greater the risk of venous thromboembolism.

 

Limitation:

• The score needs to be validated.