Dose Appropriateness, Efficacy, and Safety of Rivaroxaban and Apixaban in the Treatment of Cancer-related Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Study at a Single Center

Malignancy is a major risk factor for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), and thus cancer patients are at high risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). While the guideline-recommended anticoagulant for the treatment of cancer-associated VTE is low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) such as rivaroxaban and apixaban are often prescribed for various reasons including patient preference, convenience, and cost. Furthermore, a recent randomized controlled trial of edoxaban in cancer-related VTE showed similar efficacy and safety compared to LMWH. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the appropriateness of rivaroxaban and apixaban dose as well as rate of VTE recurrence and bleeding outcomes in patients with cancer-related VTE treatment.Doctor of Pharmac