What Increases Your Risk?

It is estimated that up to 1 out of 5 patients exposed to anthracyclines can develop cardiotoxicity. Many factors contribute to the risk (or chance) of developing heart damage. Some factors depend on the cancer treatment (therapy-related). Others depend on an individual’s health (patient-related).  

Therapy-related risk of heart problems goes up with higher doses of anthracyclines. Also, certain other types of cancer treatments such as trastuzumab or radiation to the chest can increase risk.  

Patient-related risk factors include age, gender, underlying risk factors and pre-existing heart conditions. While anthracyclines can cause heart disease at any age, the risk is higher for people who receive treatment when they are over the age 65 years. People who received anthracyclines in childhood or as a young adult are also at higher risk. Risk of heart damage is slightly higher for women compared with men. 

The damaging effect of anthracyclines is increased by other uncontrolled heart risk factors. It’s important to control risk factors like  high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and coronary artery disease to decrease risk of heart damage. Having abnormal heart function or heart failure before starting anthracyclines also increases the risk.