Blood Thinners Could Significantly Increase Hematuria Risk

Antithrombotic medication use was associated with a significantly increased risk for hematuria-related complications among older adults, according to the findings of a recent study.

The population-based, retrospective cohort study included 2,518,064 patients aged 66 years and older living in Ontario, Canada between 2002 and 2014. Hematuria-related complications were assessed as the main outcome, and included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or urologic procedures used to investigate or manage gross hematuria.
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Over a median 7.3 years of follow-up, a total of 808,897 patients received at least 1 prescription for an antithrombotic agent.

The rate of hematuria-related complications for patients exposed to antithrombotic agents was 123.95 per 1000 person-years, compared with 80.17 events per 1000 person-year for those unexposed to antithrombotic agents. Among those receiving antithrombotic medications, the rates were 105.78, 11.12, and 7.05 for urologic procedures, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits, respectively, compared with nonusers.

The rates were 191.61 per 1000 person-years for those who received anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, 140.92 for those who only received anticoagulant agents, and 110.72 for those who only received antiplatelet agents, compared with those unexposed to antithrombotic agents.

In addition, patients who received antithrombotic agents were more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer within 6 months compared with those who did not receive the agents.

“Among older adults in Ontario, Canada, use of antithrombotic medications, compared with nonuse of these medications, was significantly associated with higher rates of hematuria-related complications (including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and urologic procedures to manage gross hematuria),” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Wallis CJD, Juvet T, Lee Y, et al. Association between use of antithrombotic medication and hematuria-related complications [published online October 3, 2017]. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.13890.