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William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
Posted: Monday, November 18, 2024
The duration of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy does not appear to significantly impact the severity of coronary artery calcification in Japanese patients after surgery for breast cancer, based on the results of a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional observational study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. However, according to Akinori Higaki, MD, PhD, of Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Japan, and colleagues, low hemoglobin levels emerged as an independent risk factor for high coronary artery calcification scores.
The investigators focused on 357 Japanese patients with breast cancer who underwent adjuvant endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor in the outpatient setting between August 2010 and October 2022. Of this population, 160 and 197 did and did not exhibit coronary artery calcification, respectively. The duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy did not seem to significantly differ between the groups (P = .236).
Patients with coronary artery calcification were found to be older (74.4 vs 63.1 years; P < .001), to have lower hemoglobin levels (12.60 vs 13.20 g/dL; P < .001), and to have a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (62.8 vs 72.0 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001). Significantly higher prevalences of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were documented in those with coronary artery calcification. The investigators reported no apparent correlation between the duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy and the coronary artery calcification score (Pearson’s R = −0.02; P = .78). Independent risk factors for coronary artery calcification were found to include older age, lower hemoglobin levels, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
“The effect of aromatase inhibitor therapy on other pathologic states, such as plaque vulnerability and vessel spasticity, should be further determined,” the investigators remarked. “[In addition], given that all enrolled patients were of East Asian ethnicity, it is important to exercise caution when generalizing our study results to other ethnic groups.”
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
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