Trends in Cancer and Pulmonary Embolism-related mortality in the adult U.S. population: A CDC WONDER database analysis from 1999 to 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e1396Keywords:
neoplasm, malignancy, cancer, CDC, pulmonary embolismAbstract
Introduction. Cancer and pulmonary embolism (PE) remain significant global health challenges, with approximately 20 million new cancer cases diagnosed worldwide, resulting in 9.7 million deaths. We aimed to assess trends in PE-associated mortality among U.S. cancer patients (1999–2020).
Material and methods. CDC WONDER death certificate data identified 179,044 PE-associated deaths in cancer patients (age ≥25). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 were obtained, stratified by year, sex, race/ethnicity, region, and cancer type, with 95% confidence intervals. Joinpoint regression identified trends.
Results. A total of 179,044 PE-associated deaths in U.S. adults with cancer were recorded from 1999 to 2020, with AAMRs rising during this period. Overall, men had higher AAMRs than women (4.2, 95% CI: 4.0–4.3 vs 3.4, 95% CI: 3.3–3.5). AAMRs were highest among NH Black/African Americans (5.7, 95% CI: 5.7–5.8); the largest absolute number of deaths occurred in Whites, and the fewest in American Indians/Alaska Natives. Most deaths (64%) occurred in medical facilities. Among cancer types, lung cancer showed the highest mortality (AAMR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.97–1.05), whereas prostate cancer had the lowest (AAMR 0.20, 95% CI: 0.20–0.21).
Conclusions. PE-associated mortality in cancer patients rose from 1999 to 2020, disproportionately affecting men, NH Black/African Americans, Midwest residents, and lung cancer patients.
Downloads
References
Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229–63. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834 PubMed PMID: 38572751. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834
Martin SS, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, Anderson CAM, Arora P, Avery CL, et al. 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024 Feb 20;149(8):E347–913. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001209 PubMed PMID: 38264914. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001209
Barco S, Valerio L, Gallo A, Turatti G, Mahmoudpour SH, Ageno W, et al. Global reporting of pulmonary embolism-related deaths in the World Health Organization mortality database: Vital registration data from 123 countries. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2021 Jul;5(5):e12520. https://doi.org/10.1002/rth2.12520 PubMed PMID: 34263098. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rth2.12520
Pulumati A, Pulumati A, Dwarakanath BS, Verma A, Papineni RVL. Technological advancements in cancer diagnostics: Improvements and limitations. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2023 Feb;6(2):e1764. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1764 PubMed PMID: 36607830. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1764
Bedell SL, Goldstein LS, Goldstein AR, Goldstein AT. Cervical Cancer Screening: Past, Present, and Future. Sex Med Rev. 2020;8(1):28–37. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.09.005
Trieu PDY, Mello-Thoms CR, Barron ML, Lewis SJ. Look how far we have come: BREAST cancer detection education on the international stage. Front Oncol. 2022;12:1023714. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1023714 PubMed PMID: 36686760. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1023714
Anand U, Dey A, Chandel AKS, Sanyal R, Mishra A, Pandey DK, et al. Cancer chemotherapy and beyond: Current status, drug candidates, associated risks and progress in targeted therapeutics. Genes Dis. 2023 Jul;10(4):1367–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2022.02.007 PubMed PMID: 37397557. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2022.02.007
Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2024. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(1):12–49. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21820 PubMed PMID: 38230766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21820
Stavros K, Stefano B, Mareike L, Guy M. Management of Pulmonary Embolism. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 Mar 1;67(8):976–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.11.061 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.11.061
Wiener RS, Schwartz LM, Woloshin S. Time Trends in Pulmonary Embolism in the United States: Evidence of Overdiagnosis. Arch Intern Med. 2011 May 9;171(9):831–7. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.178 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.178
Stein PD, Matta F, Hughes PG, Hughes MJ. Nineteen-Year Trends in Mortality of Patients Hospitalized in the United States with High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism. Am J Med. 2021 Oct 1;134(10):1260–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.01.026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.01.026
Multiple Cause of Death, 1999-2020 Request [Internet]. [cited 2024 Dec 11]. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
Ingram DD, Franco SJ. 2013 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. Vital Health Stat 2. 2014 Apr;(166):1–73. PubMed PMID: 24776070.
Anderson RN, Rosenberg HM. Age standardization of death rates: implementation of the year 2000 standard. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 1998 Oct 7;47(3):1–16, 20. PubMed PMID: 9796247.
Joinpoint Regression Program [Internet]. [cited 2024 Dec 11]. Available from: https://surveillance.cancer.gov/joinpoint/
Janus SE, Chami T, Karnib M, Mously H, Hajjari J, Badhwar AK, et al. Trends and disparities in pulmonary embolism mortality among patients with cancer. Vasc Med. 2022 Oct 1;27(5):493–5. https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X221103626 PubMed PMID: 35694893. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X221103626
Alotaibi G, Wu C, Senthilselvan A, McMurtry MS. Short- and long-term mortality after pulmonary embolism in patients with and without cancer. Vasc Med. 2018 Jun 1;23(3):261–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X18754692 PubMed PMID: 29521183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X18754692
Næss IA, Christiansen SC, Romundstad P, Cannegieter SC, Rosendaal FR, Hammerstrøm J. Incidence and mortality of venous thrombosis: a population-based study. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Apr;5(4):692–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1538-7836.2007.02450.X PubMed PMID: 17367492. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.02450.x
Gervaso L, Dave H, Khorana AA. Venous and Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review. JACC CardioOncol. 2021 Jun 1;3(2):173–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccao.2021.03.001 PubMed PMID: 34396323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccao.2021.03.001
Lyman GH, Khorana AA. Cancer, Clots and Consensus: New Understanding of an Old Problem. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2009 Oct 10;27(29):4821. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.22.3032 PubMed PMID: 19752337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.22.3032
Abdel-Razeq HN, Mansour AH, Ismael YM. Incidental pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: clinical characteristics and outcome – a comprehensive cancer center experience. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2011;7(1):153. https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S17947 PubMed PMID: 21468175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S17947
Alshehri FS, Alloghbi A, Alshalani A, Sabah HA, Whyte CS. Cancer-Associated Thrombosis (CAT); mechanisms and treatment options. Thromb J. 2025 Dec 1;23(1):116. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00795-9 PubMed PMID: 41286902. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00795-9
Bayleyegn B, Adane T, Getawa S, Aynalem M, Kifle ZD. Coagulation parameters in lung cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Lab Anal. 2022 Jul 1;36(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/JCLA.24550 PubMed PMID: 35719003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcla.24550
Falanga A, Marchetti M, Vignoli A. Coagulation and cancer: biological and clinical aspects. J Thromb Haemost. 2013 Feb;11(2):223–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/JTH.12075 PubMed PMID: 23279708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jth.12075
Li Y, Shang Y, Wang W, Ning S, Chen H. Lung Cancer and Pulmonary Embolism: What Is the Relationship? A Review. J Cancer. 2018;9(17):3046. https://doi.org/10.7150/JCA.26008 PubMed PMID: 30210627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.26008
Au C, Gupta E, Khaing P, Dibello J, Chengsupanimit T, Mitchell EP, et al. Clinical presentations and outcomes in pulmonary embolism patients with cancer. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2021 Feb 1;51(2):430–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11239-020-02298-Y PubMed PMID: 33047244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-020-02298-y
Machanahalli Balakrishna A, Reddi V, Belford PM, Alvarez M, Jaber WA, Zhao DX, et al. Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Review of Contemporary Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Management. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Sep 1;58(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/MEDICINA58091186 PubMed PMID: 36143863. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58091186
Browne AM, Cronin CG, English C, Nimhuircheartaigh J, Murphy JM, Bruzzi JF. Unsuspected pulmonary emboli in oncology patients undergoing routine computed tomography imaging. J Thorac Oncol. 2010;5(6):798–803. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0B013E3181D6153A PubMed PMID: 20421822. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e3181d6153a
Cronin CG, Lohan DG, Keane M, Roche C, Murphy JM. Prevalence and significance of asymptomatic venous thromboembolic disease found on oncologic staging CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Jul;189(1):162–70. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.07.2067 PubMed PMID: 17579167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.07.2067
Zuin M, Nohria A, Henkin S, Krishnathasan D, Sato A, Piazza G. Pulmonary Embolism–Related Mortality in Patients With Cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2460315–e2460315. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60315 PubMed PMID: 39964681. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60315
Nishikawa T, Fujita T, Morishima T, Okawa S, Hino T, Yasui T, et al. Prognostic Effect of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism on Long-Term Mortality in Cancer Patients. Circ J. 2024;88(2):198–204. https://doi.org/10.1253/CIRCJ.CJ-20-1160 PubMed PMID: 33597323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1253/circj.CJ-20-1160
Qdaisat A, Kamal M, Al-Breiki A, Goswami B, Wu CC, Zhou S, et al. Clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of incidental pulmonary embolism in cancer patients. Blood Adv. 2020 Apr 28;4(8):1606–14. https://doi.org/10.1182/BLOODADVANCES.2020001501 PubMed PMID: 32311012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001501
Verso M, Moik F, Graziani M, Cohen AT. Targeted anti-cancer agents and risk of venous thromboembolism. Haematologica. 2024 Dec 1;109(12):3868. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2023.284778 PubMed PMID: 39618297. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2023.284778
Zghouzi M, Mwansa H, Shore S, Hyder SN, Kamdar N, Moles VM, et al. Sex, Racial, and Geographic Disparities in Pulmonary Embolism-related Mortality Nationwide. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2023 Nov 1;20(11):1571–7. https://doi.org/10.1513/ANNALSATS.202302-091OC PubMed PMID: 37555732. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202302-091OC
Keller K, Rappold L, Gerhold-Ay A, Hobohm L, Hasenfuß G, Konstantinides S V., et al. Sex-specific differences in pulmonary embolism. Thromb Res. 2019 Jun 1;178:173–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.THROMRES.2019.04.020 PubMed PMID: 31039477. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2019.04.020
Datta T, Brunson A, Mahajan A, Keegan T, Wun T. Racial disparities in cancer-associated thrombosis. Blood Adv. 2022 May 24;6(10):3167–77. https://doi.org/10.1182/BLOODADVANCES.2021006209 PubMed PMID: 35171995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006209
Hernandez W, Gamazon ER, Smithberger E, O’Brien TJ, Harralson AF, Tuck M, et al. Novel genetic predictors of venous thromboembolism risk in African Americans. Blood. 2016 Apr 14;127(15):1923–9. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2015-09-668525 PubMed PMID: 26888256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2015-09-668525
Weze KO, Obisesan OH, Dardari ZA, Cainzos-Achirica M, Dzaye O, Graham G, et al. The Interplay of Race/Ethnicity and Obesity on the Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Jul 1;63(1):e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.12.023 PubMed PMID: 35260291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.12.023
Batty M, Gibbs C, Ippolito B. Health insurance, medical debt, and financial well-being. Health Econ. 2022 May 1;31(5):689–728. https://doi.org/10.1002/HEC.4472 PubMed PMID: 35001448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4472
The Affordable Care Act and Insurance Coverage in Rural Areas | KFF [Internet]. [cited 2024 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/the-affordable-care-act-and-insurance-coverage-in-rural-areas/
Nichols L, Saunders R, Knollmann FD. Causes of death of patients with lung cancer. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012 Dec;136(12):1552–7. https://doi.org/10.5858/ARPA.2011-0521-OA PubMed PMID: 23194048. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2011-0521-OA
Lee JE, Kim HR, Lee SM, Yim JJ, Yoo CG, Kim YW, et al. Clinical characteristics of pulmonary embolism with underlying malignancy. Korean J Intern Med. 2010 Mar;25(1):66–70. https://doi.org/10.3904/KJIM.2010.25.1.66 PubMed PMID: 20195405. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2010.25.1.66
Li C, Lei S, Ding L, Xu Y, Wu X, Wang H, et al. Global burden and trends of lung cancer incidence and mortality. Chin Med J (Engl). 2023 Jul 5;136(13):1583–90. https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000002529 PubMed PMID: 37027426. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000002529
Razak NBA, Jones G, Bhandari M, Berndt MC, Metharom P. Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: An Overview of Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Treatment. Cancers (Basel). 2018 Oct 11;10(10):380. https://doi.org/10.3390/CANCERS10100380 PubMed PMID: 30314362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers10100380
Donnellan E, Khorana AA. Cancer and Venous Thromboembolic Disease: A Review. Oncologist. 2017 Feb 1;22(2):199. https://doi.org/10.1634/THEONCOLOGIST.2016-0214 PubMed PMID: 28174293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2016-0214
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The copyright to the submitted manuscript is held by the Author, who grants the Journal of Medical Science (JMS) a nonexclusive licence to use, reproduce, and distribute the work, including for commercial purposes.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

