Cardiotoxicity and Cardiac Monitoring Among Anthracycline-Treated Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Anthracycline-induced hypertension in pediatric cancer survivors: unveiling the long-term cardiovascular risks

BACKGROUND

Long-term cardiovascular complications are common among pediatric cancer survivors, and anthracycline-induced hypertension has become an essential reason for concern. Compared to non-cancer controls, survivors have a higher prevalence of hypertension, and as they age, their incidence rises, offering significant dangers to cardiovascular health.

MAIN BODY

Research demonstrates that exposure to anthracyclines is a major factor in the development of hypertension in children who have survived cancer. Research emphasizes the frequency and risk factors of anthracycline-induced hypertension, highlighting the significance of routine measurement and management of blood pressure. Furthermore, cardiovascular toxicities, such as hypertension, after anthracycline-based therapy are a crucial be concerned, especially for young adults and adolescents. Childhood cancer survivors deal with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy, which are made worse by high blood pressure. In order to prevent long-term complications, it is essential to screen for and monitor for anthracycline-induced hypertension. Echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers serve as essential tools for early detection and treatment. In order to lower cardiovascular risks in pediatric cancer survivors, comprehensive management strategies must include lifestyle and medication interventions in addition to survivor-centered care programs.

SHORT CONCLUSION

Proactive screening, monitoring, and management measures are necessary for juvenile cancer survivors due to the substantial issue of anthracycline-induced hypertension in their long-term care. To properly include these strategies into survivor-ship programs, oncologists, cardiologists, and primary care physicians need to collaborate together. The quality of life for pediatric cancer survivors can be enhanced by reducing the cardiovascular risks linked to anthracycline therapy and promoting survivor-centered care and research.

Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients: The Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Cardioprotective Measures in a Cancer Centre in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity can exhibit several patterns of functional, structural, and vascular complications. This study aims to identify the patterns and the factors associated with cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.

METHOD

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 96 adult cancer patients undergoing anticancer therapy was investigated at King Khalid Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia, from May 2022 to April 2023. The data on patient and cancer characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Factors associated with cardiotoxicity were investigated through univariate analyses using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

 Among the 96 cancer patients in the study, cardiotoxicity occurred in 12 individuals (12.5%). The mean age was 57.0 ± 13.3 years (range: 32-81 years), with 32 (33.3%) being above 65 years. The most common comorbidities were diabetes (n=48; 50%), followed by hypertension (n=32; 33.3%), and dyslipidemia (n=20; 20.8%). The most common cancers were gastrointestinal cancer (n=32; 33.3%), followed by breast cancer (n=22; 22.9%) and lymphoma (n=14; 14.6%). Females were disproportionately affected (64.6%), with 57.3% of them in the metastatic stage. The majority of patients (90.6%) had normal ejection fraction before chemotherapy initiation. In univariate analysis, current smoking (OR: 7.00; 95%CI: 1.94-25.25, p= 0.003), history of percutaneous cardiac intervention (OR: 40.24; 95%CI: 1.80-896.26, p= 0.019), diabetes (OR: 6.05; 95%CI: 1.24-29.32, p= 0.025), renal failure (OR: 8.20; 95%CI: 0.91-74.88, p= 0.046), dyslipidemia (OR: 5.00; 95 CI: 1.38-18.32, p=0.012), anthracycline use (OR: 18.33; 95%CI: 4.36-126.55, p <0.001), trastuzumab use (OR: 25.00; 95%CI: 6.25-129.86, p < 0.001), and increased chemotherapy cycles number (> 10 cycles) (OR: 73.00; 95%CI: 8.56- 622.36, p < 0.001) were associated with cardiotoxicity. Additionally, beta-blocker use was associated with lower rates of cardiotoxicity (OR: 0.17; 95%CI: 0.036-0.84, p= 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of cardiotoxicity among cancer patients treated with chemotherapy is modest, difficult to predict, and independent of baseline cardiac systolic functions. Factors associated with cardiotoxicity include smoking, history of percutaneous cardiac intervention, diabetes, renal failure, dyslipidemia, anthracycline or trastuzumab use, and increased chemotherapy cycle numbers. A combination of various anticancer drugs and chemotherapy may dramatically raise the risk of cardiotoxicity in cancer patients. As a result, patients receiving high-risk cardiotoxic drugs should be monitored with caution to avoid drug-related cardiotoxicity. Furthermore, proactive treatment techniques aiming at reducing the possible cardiotoxic effects of anticancer therapy are critical.

Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiotoxicity: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis at Najran Cancer Center, Saudi Arabia

Background Cardiotoxicity, produced as an adverse effect of anticancer therapy, is a common issue during cancer treatment. Acute coronary syndrome, myocarditis, arrhythmias, or heart failure can all be symptoms of this issue. Little is known about its occurrence among Saudi Arabian cancer patients. This study aims to investigate factors linked to anticancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity. Methods A retrospective study was conducted from April 2020 to May 2022 at the King Khalid Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia. The study included adult cancer patients receiving anticancer therapy, regardless of their cardiovascular disease history. Univariate analysis was used to investigate factors associated with the occurrence of cardiotoxicity related to anticancer therapy. Results Of 78 patients receiving anticancer therapy, cardiotoxicity occurred in 12 (15.4%) patients. The mean age was 56.5 ± 13.4 years, with 33.3% aged over 65 years. Comorbidities included hypertension (44; 56.4%), diabetes (41; 52.6%), dyslipidemia (13; 16.7%), smoking (16; 20.5%), heart disease (6; 7.7%), trastuzumab use (9; 11.5%), and chronic kidney disease (2; 2.6%). The most common cancers were breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancer (27.6% each). Monoclonal anticancer agents 35 (46.1%) and alkylating agents 29 (38.2%) were commonly used chemotherapies. Cardiac protective agents were used in 16 (21.1%) of patients, with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors 15 (19.7%) and statins (13; 17.1%) being the most prescribed. Baseline ejection fraction (EF) was normal in 69 (90.8%) of cases. The follow-up duration was 1.93 ± 1.90 years. A drop in EF occurred in five (6.6%) of cases. Dyslipidemia (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03-0.47, p=0.002), previous heart disease (OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.81, p=0.029), and impaired baseline EF (p=0.029) were associated with increased risk of cardiotoxicity. Statin (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.84, p=0.028) and antiplatelet agents (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03 to 1.01, p=0.051) were protective agents against cardiac toxicity. Conclusion Effective anti-cancer therapy may be accompanied by an increased risk of cardiotoxicity. In this study, a history of prior heart disease, dyslipidemia, low baseline ejection fraction, and the administration of multiple anticancer therapy agents was associated with cardiotoxicity. Proactive management strategies aimed at mitigating the potential cardiotoxic effects of anti-cancer therapies are crucial.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardiac Surveillance Evaluation of Patients Treated With Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy

Background Anthracyclines remain a key treatment for many malignancies but can increase the risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Specific guidelines recommend echocardiography and serum cardiac biomarkers such as BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) or NT-proBNP (N-terminal proBNP) evaluation before and 6 to 12 months after treatment. Our objective was to evaluate associations between racial and ethnic groups in cardiac surveillance of survivors of cancer after exposure to anthracyclines. Methods and Results Adult patients in the OneFlorida Consortium without prior cardiovascular disease who received at least 2 cycles of anthracyclines were included in the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for receiving cardiac surveillance at baseline before anthracycline therapy, 6 months after, and 12 months after anthracycline exposure among different racial and ethnic groups. Among the entire cohort of 5430 patients, 63.4% had a baseline echocardiogram, with 22.3% receiving an echocardiogram at 6 months and 25% at 12 months. Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients had a lower likelihood of receiving a baseline echocardiogram than Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients (OR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.63-0.88]; P=0.0006) or any baseline cardiac surveillance (OR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.64-0.89]; P=0.001). Compared with NHW patients, Hispanic patients received significantly less cardiac surveillance at the 6-month (OR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.72-0.98]; P=0.03) and 12-month (OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.74-0.98]; P=0.03) time points, respectively. Conclusions There were significant racial and ethnic differences in cardiac surveillance among survivors of cancer at baseline and following anthracycline-based treatment in NHB and Hispanic cohorts. Health care providers need to be cognizant of these social inequities and initiate efforts to ensure recommended cardiac surveillance occurs following anthracyclines.