Thrombotic events and mortality risk in patients with newly diagnosed polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia

According to data from a retrospective, real-world analysis of Medicare patients with newly diagnosed high-risk polycythemia vera (PV) or intermediate-/high-risk essential thrombocythemia (ET), during follow-up (median: PV, 34.5 months; ET, 25.5 months), 28.4% of those with PV and 24.5% with ET experienced thrombotic events, most commonly ischemic stroke (PV, 46.0%; ET, 42.5%). Researchers also found an increased mortality risk among those patients with post-index thrombosis compared to those without in both disease groups (P < 0.001 for PV and ET, respectively).