Risk of heart failure among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

This study looked at the risk of developing heart failure among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The study concluded that survivors with preexisting cardiovascular conditions were more likely to experience heart failure than people in the general population. 

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is often treated with chemotherapies that contain anthracycline. These chemotherapies include doxorubicin, daunoribicin, epirubicin, and idarubicin. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens have been shown to increase the risk for heart failure. Other risk factors for heart failure (cardiovascular risk factors) are high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. More research is needed on the effects that anthracycline-based chemotherapy and cardiovascular risk factors have on the risk of heart failure among NHL survivors. 

The medical records of 9,907 people were reviewed. 2,508 patients were survivors of some type of NHL. 7,399 participants were controls from the general population. The controls were matched to the NHL patients by age and sex to reduce the risk of bias. The average length of follow-up among survivors was 2.5 years.

92% of survivors received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Survivors had a significantly increased risk of experiencing heart failure (42% increase) compared to the general population.

39% of survivors had at least one risk for heart failure before beginning their treatment. After 5 years of follow-up, 115 patients experienced heart failure. Within the group of survivors, having one cardiovascular risk factor increased the risk of heart failure by 63%. Having 2 or more cardiovascular risk factors increased the risk of heart failure 2.86-fold. Other factors that increased the risk of heart failure were being older, being male, and receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy. 

The authors concluded that survivors were at higher risk of heart failure compared to the general population, and increased age, previous heart failure risk factors, and dose of anthracycline-based chemotherapy were associated with increased risk of heart failure among survivors.