The relationship between inflammation and aging as risk factors (red arrows) for the development of CH, MPN, cancer, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. Inflammation is implicated in increasing the risk of evolution from CH to MPN (black arrow). In addition, MPN and cancer drive inflammatory states, compounding the effects of inflammation. Inflammation and aging confound the relationship between MPN and thrombosis due to their roles as independent risk factors for both arterial and venous thrombosis.