Novel Findings in Travel-related Thrombosis and COVID-19 Related Cardiovascular Data: Data Mining Method for Previously Published Data

Abstract

AbstractImage analysis software is used in the review process to detect research misconduct (1), but not for positive motives (e.g., for missing findings). Also, scientists analyze “raw images” (e.g., MRI), but there are no methods for published “charts.” So, we conceived an analysis method. We applied our idea to two cardiovascular data related to thrombosis (traveler’s or travel-related thrombosis and COVID-19) because there are still controversial discussions that might be due to some overlooked information. We found overlooked an approximately 28 days cycle of thrombosis onset over several weeks after travel in a figure (Cannegieter et al.,PLoS Med. 2006, in the top 25% of all research scored by Altmetric) (2). Also, we found an eighteen-day cycle of thrombosis onset in another chart (Kelman et al.,BMJ. 2003, in the top 5% of research) (3). In COVID-19, we found overlooked subgroup patterns in a scatterplot of Troponin T and NT-proBNP (Guo et al.JAMA Cardiol. 2020, top 5% research) (4), which has already appeared in the cardiomyopathy study in 2016 (Budnik et al.,Int J Cardiol. 2016) (5). The above cyclic patterns suggested that travel-related oral contraceptive initiation (e.g., honeymoon and OC initiation) or hormone replacement therapy caused thrombosis. Also, the in-flight environment can likely not explain the cyclic patterns. In conclusion, women’s life-stage-related events, which are also related to travel, may be the underlying cause. In COVID-19, biomarker data should require a re-analysis. Our findings in the well-known figures suggest that our tips can be an essential review technique.Significance statementRaw images (raw data), such as MRI, are often analyzed, but the chart is not. We developed a method for review charts and found about 28 days of thrombosis onset rhythm after travel in a published figure, which suggests travel-related oral contraceptive (OC) initiation exists (e.g., honeymoon and starting birth control OC). The OC has already been discussed as a risk (aggravating) factor in the context that the thrombosis is caused by increased blood viscosity due to dehydration in a dry cabin or blood stasis due to restricted movement in a narrow seat (e.g., economy class). However, our result may require reversing the root cause because the rhythm suggests that thrombus (blood clot) is not developed in the cabin but is related to drug concentration.