LANSING, MI — Cancer Patients are at increased risk of ailments such as pulmonary embolisms and a new research study funded by the Sparrow/MSU Center for Innovation and Research is attempting to find out why.

     The study specifically is examining Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which includes a grouping of serious conditions. Cancer Patients have up to a seven-fold increased risk of VTE than non-cancer Patients. Those cancer Patients have three times as many hospitalizations, increased medical and pharmacy claims, and higher healthcare costs overall than their non-cancer counterparts.

The project, led by Supratik Rayamajhi, M.D., a Sparrow Hospitalist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the MSU College of Human Medicine, is analyzing demographic and clinical factors among Cancer Patients with VTE to try to determine common issues.

     “If we are able to identify those at risk of VTE, we can treat them on time,” Dr. Rayamajhi said. “VTE has been known to increase mortality and morbidity among cancer Patients and to increase cancer care costs both to individuals and healthcare systems.”

     The Sparrow /MSU Center for Innovation and Research was created through a formal partnership agreement between Sparrow and MSU. MSU’s intellectual capital and Sparrow’s community-based clinicians work collaboratively to develop innovative approaches to high quality, safe care. The Center aims to transform the delivery of healthcare through the implementation and evaluation of research that improves Patient outcomes and lowers costs.

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