Left ventricular systolic dysfunction in metastatic breast cancer patients: a Polish multicenter registry.

Background: The knowledge of the epidemiology of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in relationship with cardiovascular diseases, their risk factors and history of previous anticancer therapy may lead to development of safer and more effective therapeutic strategies in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Patients And Methods: Oncologists from various Polish Centers reported 299 new cases of metastatic BC requiring chemotherapy. All registered previous cardiological and oncological therapies should be conducted in accordance with the mandatory guidelines.

Results: Twelve new cases (4%) of LVSD were recognized in echocardiography before current chemotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association of LVSD with hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio (OR)=8.83; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.44-54.16; p<0.02), prior myocardial infarction (OR=26.81; 95%CI=2.26-318.43; p<0.01), prior antracycline-based therapy either neoadjuvant (OR=13.21; 95%CI=2.18-80.12, p=0.005) or adjuvant (OR=6.94; 95%CI=1.003-47.985, p<0.05).

Conclusion: LVSD in metastatic BC reflects common negative effects of hypercholesterolemia, coronary events and neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy with anthracyclines.