Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Timing of Anthracyclines and Trastuzumab Cardiac Toxicity

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) predict cardiotoxicity in cancer patients but their role in late cardiac toxicity is less clear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients treated with anthracyclines (A) and/or trastuzumab (T) and a correlation with early (≤5 years) or late (>5 years) cardiac toxicity, and baseline CVRFs and CVRFs at toxicity time. RESULTS: A total of 610 patients were included, 422 with (Group A) and 188 without (Group B) baseline CVRFs. In group A toxicity incidence was 4.7% with all events during treatment or immediately after [mean onset time 0.7 years (range=0.2-1.6)]. Events rate was 3.2% in group B with all events after five years [mean time onset 6.9 years (range=5.2-7.5)]. All group B patients who developed late cardiac toxicity presented with CVRFs at the time of toxicity not reported before. CONCLUSION: CVRFs could predict late cardiac toxicity and their control should be part of the survivorship program.