Cardio-oncology Clinic Research Articles

Does HFpEF represent a risk factor and a marker of cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing cancer treatment?

Abstract Background The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) increases with the aging of our population and shares risk factors with cancer. Furthermore, HFpEF conveys a worse prognosis if it remains unrecognized and untreated. However, it is not considered as a surrogate marker in the baseline risk stratificatoin of patients that will undergo potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatments. Moreover, the definition of cardiotoxicity focuses mainly on systolic dysfunction, based on left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain changes. Data on the prevalence of new-onset HFpEF during cancer treatment are limited. Purpose We evaluated the prevalence of HFpEF in cancer patients followed in our cardio-oncology clinic, with new cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT) events in patients with known HFpEF prior to cancer therapy. We also assessed the prevalence of patients diagnosed with HFpEF while undergoing cancer therapy. Methods A total of 630 cancer patients referred for either baseline evaluation, on-treatment surveillance, long-term follow-up or new complaints suspect for cardiovascular disease were included in this real-world observational study, with a mean follow-up duration of 507 days. They underwent comprehensive workup in accordance with the ESC guidelines, including clinical assessment, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and biomarker testing. Results From the total population, 36 (5.7%) were diagnosed with HFpEF prior to cancer treatment initiation. Among these, 18 (50%) developed CTR-CVT during follow-up, mainly heart failure events (cancer-therapy related cardiac dysfunction or HFpEF decompensation). Independent of baseline characteristics, 233 patients (37.0%) developed a heart failure event during or after cancer treatment. Of these, 92 patients (14.6% of the total population, 39.5% of all HF events on treatment) developed a HFpEF event during or after cancer treatment. Of these HFpEF events, 42 patients (45.7%) were known with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, of whom only 14 (15.2%) with pre-existing HFpEF. In 50 patients (54.3%) the HFpEF diagnosis was made de novo during (or after) cancer treatment. Patients developing HFpEF were mostly female (n=54, 58.7%) and relatively young (mean age 62.0 years). Most HFpEF events occurred in breast cancer patients (n=32, 34.7%), prostate cancer patients (n=13, 14.1%) and multiple myeloma patients (n=9, 9.8%). Conclusions HFpEF is frequently overlooked, but conveys a high risk of developing CTR-CVT and should therefore be taken into account in the baseline risk stratification. Furthermore, HFpEF is responsible for an important morbidity burden during or after cancer cardiotoxic treatments, even in patients without prior diagnosis of HFpEF at baseline evaluation. Further studies are needed to evaluate if this population may benefit from specific management and treatment strategies in order to improve prognosis.Prevalence of HFpEF in cancer patients

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (Sacubitril/Valsartan) in cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction: real-world experience from a nurse-led cardio-oncology clinic

Abstract Introduction Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a common toxicity amongst patients receiving anti-cancer treatment1. Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) Sacubitril/Valsartan is recommended to reduce Heart Failure (HF) admissions and cardiovascular mortality2. However, patients with active cancer were excluded from the key trials of ARNI. This study aims to provide a real-world experience of ARNI prescription and management from the perspective of a nurse-led Cardio-Oncology clinic. Methods This is a single centre, retrospective, observational cohort study performed at a Cardio-Oncology specialist centre between the period of 2021 to 2024. Adult cancer patients receiving anti-cancer therapy were included if they had symptomatic HF or asymptomatic CTRCD, were initiated on ARNI and followed up in the nurse-led Cardio-Oncology clinic. Results Twenty-nine patients were started on ARNI (see Figure 1). The mean age of the patients was 66+11 years and 17 (59%) were male. Cardiovascular risk factors were common: hypertension (45%), hyperlipidaemia (35%), diabetes mellitus (21%), and smoking (17%). Haematological and breast malignancies were most common (31% and 21% respectively), followed by gynaecological malignancies (14%). Twenty-one (72%) were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy including 10 (35%) received anthracyclines. Five (17%) patients received human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted therapies, 3 (10%) were on tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and 2 (7%) received immunotherapy. Twenty-five (86%) patients presented with symptomatic HF while 4 (14%) had asymptomatic CTRCD. The median N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) level was elevated at 1325(806-4330)ng/L. Thirteen (45%) patients tolerated the maximum dose of 200mg twice daily, while 16 (56%) could only tolerate middle and lowest dosages. ARNI dose up titration to the maximum tolerated dose took 26 (15-79) days. Twenty-eight (97%) patients were on beta blockers, 26 (90%) received SGLT2 inhibitors, 25 (86%) on mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and 10 (35%) patients required diuretics. The most common side effect was symptomatic hypotension in 11 (38%) patients. Two (7%) had hyperkalemia, 1 (3%) acute kidney injury following initiation, and 1 (3%) had dizziness without significant hypotension. Nine (31%) required dose reduction allowing ARNI to be continued, while 3 (10%) patients had to permanently discontinue ARNI. There were no cardiovascular deaths, cancer deaths or HF admissions. Conclusion The Cardio-Oncology nurse-led clinic permits rapid up-titration of ARNI to target dosages in patients with CTRCD, resulting in significant improvements in cardiac function. The nurse lead clinic education, support and side effect management allowed uninterrupted continuation of cancer treatment. Whether this approach translates into be better cardiac and cancer outcomes requires further study.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with a history of cancer enrolled in our prospective HFpEF registry

Abstract Background Along with the aging population, the incidence of concomitant heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and cancer, is increasing. However, little is known about the typical characteristics of patients with both HFpEF and a history of oncologic disease. Aim We aimed to characterize the distinctive characteristics and outcomes of patients with a history of cancer within a prospective HFpEF registry. Methods We analyzed data from 491 unselected HFpEF patients from our tertiary university center between 2010 and 2022 and followed the patients until 2023. Laboratory parameters and comorbidities were assessed. Patients were categorized into those with and without a history of cancer, including various malignancies, survivors of childhood cancer, radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to explore the association between cancer history, as well as previous radiotherapy, and a combined endpoint of heart failure hospitalization and/or all-cause death. Results In this analysis of 491 HFpEF patients, a total of 101 patients (21%); had a history of cancer [mean age 74±7 years; female 72 (72%), male 29 (29%)]. The median time from cancer diagnosis to the initial HFpEF visit was 7.0 years (IQR 13-0.5 years). The most prevalent primary cancer sites included the chest wall (32%) comprising 4 adenocarcinomas of the lung and 28 cases of breast cancer, followed by the gastric (28%), urogenital system (18%), hematologic and lymphatic system (16%), cancers located at the head and neck (5%) and endocrine malignancies (1%). Radiotherapy (39%) and chemotherapy (26%) were common. Notably, no significant differences were observed, between patients with or without a history of cancer, in terms of median NT-proBNP levels [1037 (IQR 416-2075) vs. 1060 pg/ml (IQR 462-2013)] and the frequency of key cardiovascular comorbidities (all p>0.05, see Table 1). Over the study period [median follow-up 50 months (IQR 18-76)], 64 (64%) of cancer patients met the combined endpoint, with no statistically significant difference in outcomes between HFpEF patients with and without a cancer history (log-rank p=0.222, see Figure 1). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the combined endpoint between patients who had undergone radiotherapy and those without (log-rank p=0.162). Conclusion Our findings highlight a high coexistence of cancer and HFpEF, which can frequently occur after oncology therapies. The data suggest that the presence of a history of cancer or previous radiotherapy did not significantly impact overall outcomes in HFpEF patients compared to those without cancer during the study period. Further research is needed to characterize patients with both disease entities in detail. Due to modern cardiovascular therapy in a university and cardio-oncology clinic setting, outcomes for cancer patients appear better than expected.

Role of Global Left Ventricle Longitudinal Strain and Cardiac Biomarkers in the Early Detection of Cancer Therapy-Related Dysfunction in Patients Treated With Cardiotoxic Chemotherapeutic Drugs in a Cardio-Oncology Clinic

Role of Global Left Ventricle Longitudinal Strain and Cardiac Biomarkers in the Early Detection of Cancer Therapy-Related Dysfunction in Patients Treated With Cardiotoxic Chemotherapeutic Drugs in a Cardio-Oncology Clinic

Independent predictors of MACE in patients with cancer

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background/Introduction Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of death worldwide. Both disease entities share common risk factors. More importantly, the main cause of death after disease progression is cardiovascular disease in patients with cancer. Despite the recent advancements in the field of cardio-oncology, the main prognostic factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remain elusive. Purpose To investigate prognostic factors of MACE in a single center cardio-oncology registry. Methods Consecutive patients referred to the cardio-oncology outpatient clinic of a tertiary center for cardiologic consultation were included. All patients were followed up clinically or by telephone. Data from national records were also used. Results In total, 115 patients were included in the analysis. Of them, 60 (52.2%) were female and the majority of study population suffered from breast cancer (27%). Thirteen patients (11.3%) had hematologic malignancies and the rest solid tumors. Chemotherapy was received by a total of 94 patients (81,7%). The mean follow -up duration was 446 days. During follow up, 32 MACEs (27.8%) occurred. Death from any cause occurred in 21 patients (including 2 cardiac deaths), hospitalization due to heart failure in 6, myocardial infarction in 2, pulmonary embolism in 3 and stroke in 1 patient. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor of MACE, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and body mass index (OR=3.37, 95% CI 1.14-9.99). In Kaplan Meier plots patients with diabetes mellitus showed higher incidence of MACE (log rank p=0.03). Conclusions In the present single center study, diabetes mellitus emerged as an independent predictor of MACE. This finding confirms the important and primary role of cardio-oncology units in the strict management of cardiovascular risk factors, leading to improved prognosis of this patient-population.Kaplan Meier Curve

Trastuzumab in patients with breast cancer and pre-existing left ventricular systolic dysfunction

BackgroundTrastuzumab is one of the most effective treatments in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients. However, it is associated with development of cardiomyopathy/heart failure (HF) which is often a limiting side effect and associated with overall adverse outcomes. As a result, patients with pre-existing LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are often excluded from receiving anti-HER-2 therapy, which may lead to less effective cancer treatment and worse prognosis.ObjectivesThe current study aims to evaluate the safety of trastuzumab in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer and pre-existing LVSD.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 36 consecutive patients at a single center in Iran with HER-2 positive breast cancer with asymptomatic mild LVSD with LVEF 40–53% without heart failure symptoms and those who were closely followed in the Cardio-Oncology clinic before initiating the treatment and then every two cycles of trastuzumab were included. As per the program standard protocol they received a beta-blocker (carvedilol) and ACE-I (Lisinopril), up to the maximum tolerated dose, if there were no contraindications. Patients underwent routine echocardiography with global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessment every 3 months per guideline recommendations and were followed up 6 months after the end of treatment. Primary composite outcomes included myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure(HF) symptoms and cardiovascular death. Secondary outcome was ≥ 10% reduction in LVEF or ≥ 15% reduction in GLS compared to baseline. If the LVEF decreased below 40%, the treatment was temporarily interrupted for one or two cycles, and spironolactone was added to the patient’s treatment. If the LVEF improved ≥ 40%, trastuzumab was rechallenged. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0. Software. Patients’ characteristics were reported using descriptive statistics, and its association with drop in LVEF or GLS was assessed using Pearson chi-square or Mann-Whitney U test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThirty-six patients were included in the study. Primary composite outcome was noted in 1(2.8%) patient. LVEF reduction of ≥ 10% occurred in 6(16.7%) of the patients, and a GLS reduction of more than 15% was detected in 4 (11.1%) of the patients. There was a significant association between a ≥ 10% reduction in LVEF and baseline systolic blood pressure (P-value: 0.04). LVEF reduction below 40% was observed in 3 (8.3%) patients, where trastuzumab was interrupted. All of these three patients had obesity (Median BMI 34.11, IQR 9.12) and uncontrolled HTN, and one of them had symptoms of heart failure (NYHA class II), for whom the trastuzumab treatment was discontinued. Among two patients, after the temporary interruption of trastuzumab, and addition of spironolactone, LVEF improved to above 40%, and the treatment was restarted with close cardiac monitoring; therefore, they could complete the entire one-year treatment period.ConclusionsTreatment with trastuzumab seems to be safe in patients with pre-existing LVSD (LVEF = 40–53%). Such high-risk patients should be strictly monitored and cardiovascular risk factors, such as HTN should be regulated.

Lessons learnt in the first year of an Australian pediatric cardio oncology clinic

BackgroundModern oncological therapies together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy have broadened the agents that can cause cardiac sequelae, which can manifest for pediatric oncology patients while on active treatment. Recommendations for high-risk patients who should be monitored in a pediatric cardio-oncology clinic have previously been developed by expert Delphi consensus by our group. In 2022 we opened our first multidisciplinary pediatric cardio-oncology clinic adhering to these recommendations in surveillance and management.ObjectivesOur pediatric cardio-oncology clinic aimed to:(i) Document cardiovascular toxicities observed within a pediatric cardio-oncology clinic and.(ii) Evaluate the applicability of the Australian and New Zealand Pediatric Cardio-Oncology recommendations.Methods Monthly multidisciplinary cardio-oncology clinics were conducted in an Australian tertiary pediatric hospital. Structured standardised approaches to assessment were built into the electronic medical record (EMR). All patients underwent baseline echocardiogram and electrocardiogram assessment together with vital signs in conjunction with standard history and examination.ResultsNineteen (54%) individuals had a documented cardiovascular toxicity or pre-existing risk factor prior to referral. The two most common cardiovascular toxicities documented during clinic review included Left Ventricular Dysfunction (LVD) and hypertension. Of note 3 (8.1%) patients had CTCAE grade III LVD. An additional 10 (27%) patients reviewed in clinic had CTCAE grade I hypertension. None of these patients had hypertension noted within their referral. Cascade testing for cardiac history was warranted in 2 (5.4%) of patients.ConclusionsPediatric cardio-oncology clinics are likely beneficial to documenting previously unrecognised cardiotoxicity and relevant cardiac family histories, whilst providing an opportunity to address lifestyle risk factors.

Abstract 12012: Adverse Social Determinants of Health Are Associated With Increased Risk of Uncontrolled Hypertension Among Cancer Patients in Rural Georgia: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: The role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in the short-term control of hypertension (HTN) in cancer patients is unknown. Understanding the role of SDOH is important for equitable care of cancer patients, especially in the rural US. Hypothesis: High SDOH scores are associated with uncontrolled HTN in hypertensive cancer patients. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study at a tertiary care cancer center cardio-oncology clinic. Patients with cancer and HTN were asked to complete the Protocol for Responding to & Assessing Patients' Assets, Risks & Experiences (PRAPARE) questionnaire on their first visit. Blood pressure (BP) readings were taken at 2 follow-up visits. Uncontrolled HTN was defined as SBP≥130 mmHg and/or DBP≥80 mmHg with corroborated home blood pressure readings. Patients who did not perform home readings but had elevated BP at 2 nd visit were considered uncontrolled. The goals were the same regardless of cancer treatment. The SDOH score was calculated using PRAPARE SDH Risk Tally Score. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression adjusting for age, gender, and metastasis to identify the role of SDOH on short-term HTN control. The adversity cutoff for the SDOH score was informed by spline regressions. Results: In the cohort of 175 patients, median age was 66 (IQR 58-75) years, 55% were females, 42.2% were Non-Hispanic Black patients and 20.5% had breast cancer. Mean SDOH score was 6±3. The median duration of follow-up was 91 days (55-139). Uncontrolled HTN was noted in 59.4% of patients at their 2nd visit. For each 1-point increase in the SDOH score, uncontrolled hypertension increased by 9% (HR=1.09, 95% CI=1.03-1.15, p=0.002). Conclusions: Rural cardio-oncology patients with HTN have a high burden of SDOH. These study findings help identify contributors of SDOH that limit optimal HTN control in this population, allowing for better risk stratification and preventive intervention in clinical practice.

Outcomes following implementation of a pediatric cardio-oncology program

BackgroundWith improved survival following childhood cancer, cardiovascular disease has emerged as a significant source of long-term morbidity and mortality. Oncology patients require comprehensive cardiac screening and monitoring throughout their treatment and beyond. The complexity of these patients has led to increasing numbers of pediatric cardio-oncology specialty clinics. ObjectivesTo describe the characteristics and 1-year outcomes following cardio-oncology clinic implementation at a large pediatric quaternary care institution. MethodsPatients with history of chest radiation, high-dose anthracycline, or decreased left ventricular function were referred and reviewed. Initiation of oral heart failure therapy or advanced cardiac therapies within 1 year following referral were identified, and risk factors for these were evaluated. ResultsNinety-seven patients aged 5 days to 21 yrs. old were referred from 2017 to 2021. Average age at cancer diagnosis was 8.1 ± 5.5 years, with 48 % receiving high-dose anthracycline and 36 % chest radiation. Left ventricular dysfunction was present in 28 % at presentation. Oral heart failure therapy was initiated in 31 %, and none required advanced cardiac therapies. Patients who required oral heart failure therapy were more likely to be older at the age of cancer diagnosis, 10.8 ± 5.1 vs. 7.0 ± 5.3 yrs. (p = 0.001). A higher proportion of patients who received both high-dose anthracycline and chest radiation were on oral heart failure therapy (4/8, 50 %) compared to patients with high-dose anthracycline (18/46, 39 %) or chest radiation (9/35, 26 %) exposure alone, although not statistically significant. ConclusionImplementation of a pediatric cardio-oncology clinic led to increased referrals, appropriate assessment, and initiation of oral heart failure therapy. Patients older at the time of cancer diagnosis were more likely to require treatment. However, it does remain unclear if starting a COC provides long-term benefits for this particularly high-risk patient population.

Clinical characteristics of patients referred to cardio-oncology clinic

To explore characteristics of outpatients in a single cardio-oncology clinic, patients visiting cardio-oncology clinic of Fuwai Hospital CAMS&PUMC (Beijing, China) from January 2020 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. In total, 330 patients were included, the median age (Q1, Q3) was 58(46, 66) years, and there were 192 females (58.2%). The purposes for visit included an evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular adverse reactions (n=247, 74.8%), pre-antitumor therapy assessment (n=51, 15.5%), and management of primary or metastatic cardiac tumors (n=32, 9.7%). For patients with cardiovascular adverse reactions, the most common tumor type was breast cancer (n=88, 29.5%), followed by gastrointestinal cancer (n=70, 23.5%), and hematological cancers (n=62, 20.8%). Among them, 236 cases (95.5%) had received antitumor drugs in the past; 38 cases (15.4%) had a history of chest radiotherapy; some cases were complicated with hypertension (n=69, 23.2%) and/or hyperlipidemia (n=69, 23.2%); 42 cases (14.1%) had a history of coronary heart disease; and 16 cases (5.4%) were complicated with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Among 32 patients with cardiac tumors, 11 cases (34.4%) had primary malignant tumors; 6 cases (18.8%) had benign tumors; 2 cases (6.3%) had metastatic tumors; and 13 (40.6%) had unknown pathological types. This study explores the epidemiology of cardio-oncology in China and provides clinical insights for the future development of cardio-oncology. In the future, it is still necessary to study the benefits of cardio-oncology clinics and develop standardized indicators to evaluate their benefits.

Protocol: Can coronary artery calcium score identified on thoracic planning CT scans be used and actioned to identify cancer survivors at high risk of cardiac events: A feasibility study in cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy in Australia

IntroductionA coronary artery calcium (CAC) CT scan can identify calcified plaque and predict risk of future cardiac events. Cancer survivors undergoing thoracic radiotherapy routinely undergo a planning CT scan, which...

The Importance of Collaboration Elevating Cardio-Oncology Care

The Importance of Collaboration Elevating Cardio-Oncology Care

Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in women with breast cancer: CIBC study.

Many breast cancer (BC) patients experience psychological reactions and may have psychiatric morbidities, especially anxiety and depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived stress and factors affecting this stress in women with BC in Isfahan. This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 197 females with BC who were newly diagnosed and referred to Isfahan Cardio-Oncology Clinic. Stress was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale Standard questionnaire. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with gamma distribution and Log Link Function were used for data analyzing. The mean age of the patients was 48.9 ± 10.9 years, and mean perceived stress in patients was 42.8 ± 16.5. The GLMs with Gamma distribution and Log Link Function showed interaction between anxiety and surgical type and also between depression and surgical type. Patients perceived stress with anxiety*nonsurgery were significantly 2.5% higher than normal anxiety and none surgery (P = 0.004), and patients with depression*lumpectomy had significantly 2% higher stress score compared to normal depression and nonsurgery (P =0.003). Early detection of anxiety and depression can contribute to managing the stress. Coordination between psychologists and oncologists in care and treatment of these patients is important for pursuing treatment and following the recommendations of doctors and ultimately affect the morbidity and survival in BC patients.

Cardiac Toxicity of Alectinib in PatientsWith ALK+ Lung Cancer: Outcomes of Cardio-Oncology Follow-Up.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocations in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (3% to 7%) predict for response to ALK-inhibitors (eg, alectinib, first line), resulting in a 5-year survival rate of ∼60% and median progression-free survival of 34.8months. Although the overall toxicity rate of alectinib is acceptable, unexplained adverse events, including edema and bradycardia, may indicate potential cardiac toxicity. This study's aim was to investigate the cardiotoxicity profile and exposure-toxicity relationship of alectinib. Between April 2020 and September 2021, 53 patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer treated with alectinib were included. Patients starting with alectinib after April 2020 underwent a cardiac work-up at start, at6months and at 1 year at the cardio-oncology outpatients' clinic. Patients already receiving alectinib >6months underwent 1 cardiac evaluation. Bradycardia, edema, and severe alectinib toxicity (grade≥3 and grade≥2 adverse eventsleading to dose modifications) data were collected. Alectinib steady-state trough concentrations were used for exposure-toxicity analyses. Left ventricular ejection fraction remained stable in all patients who underwent an on-treatment cardiac evaluation (n=34; median 62%; IQR: 58%-64%). Twenty-two patients (42%) developed alectinib-related bradycardia (6 symptomatic bradycardia). One patient underwent a pacemaker implantation for severe symptomatic bradycardia. Severe toxicity was significantly associated with a 35% higher alectinib mean Ctrough (728 vs 539ng/mL, SD=83ng/mL; 1-sided P=0.015). No patients showed signs of a diminished left ventricular ejection fraction. Alectinib caused more bradycardia than previously reported (42%) with some instances of severe symptomatic bradycardia. Patients with severe toxicity generally had an elevated exposure above the therapeutic threshold.

Cardio-Oncology in Iran: Cardio-toxicity Registry

Advances in cancer treatment have resulted in a growing number of cancer survivors. However, powerful treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and some cancer drugs are not without risks, including the potential for serious, long-term damage to the heart. Cardiology and oncology specialists often collaborate to mitigate these risks when treating cancer patients. This joining is known as cardio-oncology. The main goals of cardio-oncology are to screen for and actively manage modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in cancer patients. Cardio-oncology plays an increasingly active role at every stage of cancer therapy, including baseline risk assessment pretreatment, surveillance and prevention during treatment, response to acute complications, and assessment of survivors’ post-cardiotoxic treatments. Cancer treatment has been optimized through new treatment strategies. The first cardio-oncology clinic in Iran was instituted about 4 years ago (2017) at Shaheed Rajaei Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center in Tehran, which is the first cardio-oncology clinic in the Middle East. It provides care for cancer patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or risk for cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy. Also, all patients are enrolled in the multicenter cardio-oncology Toxicity Registry research database, and 13 other hospitals from different centers in the whole country are involved in the registry. The establishment of the cardio-oncology clinic with a focus on the patient registry is discussed in this article.

Cardiovascular drug interventions in the cardio-oncology clinic by a cardiology pharmacist: ICOP-Pharm study.

BackgroundCardio-oncology is a rapidly growing field that requires a novel service design to deal with the increasing number of patients. It is reported that the volume of patients at the cardio-oncology clinic in the United Kingdom is 535 patients/5 years and in Canada is 779 patients/7 years. The pharmacist has a role in reducing the consultation time of physicians.ObjectiveTo identify the role of a qualified cardiology pharmacist at the cardio-oncology clinic using a new paradigm based on complementary interventions with the cardiologist for the management of patients with cancer and cardiovascular risk factors and/or cardiovascular diseases (CVRF/CVD).MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted at the cardio-oncology clinic in the Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq between December 2020 and December 2021. Patients with CVRF/CVD were registered. The Iraqi Cardio-Oncology Program-Pharmacist (ICOP-Pharm) paradigm was designed to involve a qualified cardiology pharmacist for initial cardiovascular (CV) drug interventions.ResultsAmong 333 patients who attended our clinic over the 1-year interval, 200 (60%) CVRF/CVD cases were enrolled in the study, and of them 79 (40%) patients had CV drug interventions. A total of 196 interventions were done, including 147 (75%) cases performed by the cardiology pharmacist, and 92 (63%) of the latter were CV drug initiations. Among the total CVRF/CVD treated initially by the cardiology pharmacist, hypertension 32 (26%) and cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction 29 (24%) were the main types.ConclusionThe qualified cardiology pharmacist was responsible for three-quarters of the initial CV drug interventions at the cardio-oncology clinic in a complementary approach to the cardiologist. The role of the cardiology pharmacist in the ICOP-Pharm paradigm may be one of the reasons for the ability of the heart team to manage 3-fold of the patient volume when compared with those in the United Kingdom or Canada.

Inflammatory infiltration of the cardiac conduction system in acute lymphocytic myocarditis.

A 53-year-old man with prior history of bone marrow transplant after acute myeloblastic leukaemia was admitted in the acute cardiac care unit due to suspected acute myocarditis. At admission, his electrocardiogram (ECG) showed right bundle branch block and left anterior fascicular block (Panel A). Previously, he had been assessed regularly in a dedicated cardio-oncology clinic, with normal ECG and transthoracic echocardiography (see Supplementary material online, Videos S1 and S2). Despite high-dose pulses of methylprednisolone, he developed both complete atrio-ventricular (AV) block and progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction (see Supplementary material online, Videos S3 and S4), leading to cardiogenic shock requiring temporary transvenous pacing and mechanical circulatory support with VA-ECMO. However, he died on day 9 due to multiorgan failure. Gross examination of the heart (Panel B) was normal, but histopathology and immunohistochemistry showed significant infiltration of the ventricular myocardium (Panel C), AV node (Panel D) left anterior fascicle (Panel E), and right bundle branch (Panel F) by mononuclear CD3 + T cells, consistent with the diagnosis of lymphocytic myocarditis. High-definition images S1-S8 are included in the Supplementary material online.

Early access to a cardio-oncology clinic in an Australian context: a qualitative exploration of patient experiences

BackgroundDedicated cardio-oncology services are emerging rapidly around the world in order to provide cardiovascular care (CV) for cancer patients. The perspectives of patients regarding their experience of cardiac surveillance during their cancer journey has not been qualitatively evaluated.MethodsAn interpretative qualitative study. Fifteen, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse range of community dwelling patients who attended a newly established cardio-oncology clinic in a large regional city in Australia. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsKey themes were identified: (1) Access to a cardio-oncology clinic promotes information and understanding, (2) The experience of early CV intervention, (3) Factors promoting integrated care, (4) Balancing cancer treatment and CV symptoms and (5) Managing past and emerging CV risk factors.ConclusionAs cardio oncology clinics continue to emerge, this study confirms the benefit of early access to a cardiologist for management of existing or emerging CV risk factors and diseases in the context of cancer treatment. Participants valued the opportunity for regular monitoring and management of CV issues that enabled them to continue cancer treatment. However, we identified gaps in education and support towards making positive lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of CV diseases in cancer patients.

Development of a core outcome set for cardio-oncology (COS-CO) to assess and monitor cancer patients at risk of or with cardiovascular diseases

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): King Baudouin Foundation UZ Brussel Foundation Background Experts predict a cardio-oncological epidemic in the coming years due to the growing population of cancer survivors, the increasing number of elderly people with chronic cancer therapy, and the high number of cardiovascular diseases resulting from these treatments. Cardio-oncology clinics should provide multidisciplinary, specialised evaluation, and long-term follow-up. Although a number of (inter)national registries for cardio-oncology have been created, international standards for clinical assessment and outcome measurement is lacking. Moreover, patient-reported outcomes tend to be neglected. Purpose To develop a standard and pragmatic patient-centered outcome set to assess and monitor patients at risk of or with cardiovascular diseases before, during and after oncological treatment. Methods A list of outcomes and measurement instruments was generated through review of existing registries. The project team reviewed and refined the outcomes prior to starting a Delphi procedure. The panelists, including healthcare providers and researchers were invited to rate the importance of the outcome domains. Results The set is designed to include all patients within the cardio-oncology clinic, whether before, during or after oncological treatment. We extracted >500 outcomes and after refinement 93 outcomes were rated by the panelists. The set encompass baseline cancer and cardiovascular health status (e.g. risk assessment), treatment variables, and functional, psychosocial, and survival outcomes. Data will be collected through administrative and clinical records, and validated patient-reported outcome measurement instruments. Conclusions A major component of this set’s development was surveying existing registries to establish what measurement efforts are currently being undertaken by health care and research teams. The focus and structure of existing (inter)national cardio-oncology registries limit the extent to which longitudinal patient-centered outcomes can be measured and compared. Due to the underrepresentation of patient-reported outcomes, patients will be interviewed to encompass the patient’s perspective. This set aims to facilitate (inter)national comparison in cardio-oncology care, using standardised parameters and meaningful patient-centered outcomes for research and quality of care assessments.

Predictability of cardiotoxicity: Experience of a Belgian cardio-oncology clinic

BackgroundNew oncological treatments improved survival but also increased awareness of cardiovascular side-effects during and after cancer therapy. MethodsWe report the experience of the cardio-oncology clinic at a large Belgian tertiary care center and investigated the predictability of cardiotoxicity based on referring department, cardiovascular risk factors, cancer treatment and existing risk scores of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) and Mayo Clinic. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a 10% reduction in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) compared to the baseline transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in asymptomatic patients or 5% in symptomatic patients. ResultsOf the 324 patients included, 14.5% died during follow-up. Most deaths were oncological, yet 19% of deaths were attributable to cardiovascular diseases. Models based on cardiovascular risk factors alone and cardiovascular risk factors combined with cardiotoxic medication poorly predicted cardiotoxicity. Existing risk scores from ASCO and Mayo Clinic also poorly predicted cardiotoxicity. A weighed model based on the Mayo Clinic cardiotoxicity risk score was the best risk assessment tool with still a limited predictive value with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve of 0.654 (CI 95%: 0.601–0.715). ConclusionCardiovascular morbidity and mortality are common in cancer patients and survivors and stress the unmet need of adequate risk prediction tools for systematic screening and rigorous cardiovascular follow-up. In our outpatient cohort, cardiotoxicity risk could not be adequately predicted by cancer type, using classic cardiovascular risk factors, nor by the combination of cardiovascular risk factors and the proposed cancer treatment. Furthermore, we showed that existing cardiotoxicity risk scores are suboptimal and should thus be interpreted with caution.