Grant: Project Grant

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a set of blood-clotting diseases that involve the vein system. An important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, VTE affects approximately 1 in 10 individuals during their lifetime. Risk of this condition is strongly associated with age, and recent data have identified clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a set of age-dependent, inflammation-driven genetic changes in the blood-forming system, as a potential predictor of VTE. However, our understanding of whether CHIP predicts outcomes among patients after a diagnosis of VTE is very limited. We will study adults with unprovoked VTE from four large research cohorts that include carefully reviewed outcomes, detailed health information, and stored DNA samples. Using modern DNA sequencing techniques, we will identify who has CHIP and examine: i) how common CHIP is in VTE and which factors predict it; ii) whether people with CHIP are more likely to have another clot or bleeding; and iii) whether CHIP rates and impacts differ across racial groups, after accounting for other risks. By understanding the impact of CHIP in VTE, this work could enable personalized VTE care and help address inequities in VTE outcomes. Overall, our results will improve the lives of VTE patients and families in Canada and beyond.