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A frequent dilemma faced by clinicians is whether to continue anticoagulation indefinitely in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this meta-analysis, researchers pooled data from 18 randomized trials or prospective cohort studies and estimated long-term rates of recurrent VTE in 7500 patients with unprovoked VTE whose anticoagulation was stopped after at least 3 months. Key findings were as follows:
Cumulative incidence of recurrent VTE was 10%, 16%, 25%, and 36% at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively; 10-year cumulative incidence was lower in women than in men (29% vs. 41%).
Cumulative 2-year rate of recurrent VTE was slightly higher in patients whose initial event was proximal deep venous thrombosis (with or without pu…