Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients Treated With Anthracyclines for Breast Cancer or Lymphoma: 25-Year Follow-Up

Background Anthracyclines (ACs) are a risk factor for heart failure (HF), but their impact on broader composite outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remain less well characterized. From the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified patients with breast cancer or lymphoma to assess for association between AC use and MACE in these patients with > 25 years of follow-up. Methods We identified patients with cancer, with or without an AC as first-line treatment, and a control group of individuals without cancer, matched by age, sex, and cardiovascular comorbid conditions to the cancer patients. Outcomes of interest were 3-MACE (myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death), and 4-MACE (3-MACE plus HF). Cox regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with MACE at 5, 10, and 25 years of follow-up. Results Of 812 patients with cancer, 675 had AC treatment (AC group) and 137 did not (no-AC group); the control group comprised 1,384 matched patients without cancer. The risk of 3-MACE was similar among the 3 groups at all time points. Older age, male sex, and hypertension were associated with 3-MACE. The risk of 4-MACE was similar between the control and no-AC groups; the risk was increased for the AC group vs controls at all time points. Older age, male sex, smoking history, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension were associated with 4-MACE. Conclusions Cardiovascular risk factors are the main drivers of 3-MACE and ACs increase the risk of 4-MACE given their association with HF. This underscores the importance of implementing lifestyle changes among these patients.