Cardiac cormorbidities in women with metastatic breast cancer treated with doxorubicin-based and non-doxorubicin-based chemotherapy

Abstract

1052 Background: Observational data are sparse regarding cardiac comorbidities in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) newly initiated on chemotherapy. As some MBC treatments are associated with cardiac toxicity, such information would be useful in guiding treatment decisions. The objective of this analysis was to understand the frequency of cardiac comorbidities in MBC patients prior to chemotherapy initiation based on the Medicare 5% standard analytical file (SAF). Methods: The Medicare 5% SAF was used to investigate claims for women with breast neoplasm and > 1 distant metastatic site (based on ICD-9 diagnosis codes) that subsequently received chemotherapy (based on claims with a chemotherapy J code). Cardiac comorbidities [hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial function (MI), and congestive heart failure (CHF)] prior to initial chemotherapy were reported as non-mutually exclusive categories. The index quarter was based on chemotherapy initiation that occurred between 7/2001 and 12/2006. Patients were categorized based on receipt of non doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (non-DOX) vs DOX-based chemotherapy. Results: The study included 2,587 women with MBC that received cytotoxic chemotherapy subsequent to the diagnosis of MBC. The mean age was higher in the non-DOX group. Both groups reported a significant proportion of patients with cardiac comorbidities prior to chemotherapy, with greater proportions reported in the non-DOX group (table). Conclusions: Cardiac comorbidities were commonly reported in women with MBC prior to chemotherapy. Such information is useful to health care professionals when considering potential interventions for patients with MBC. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]