Congestive heart failure among children with acute leukemia: a population-based matched cohort study

Abstract

The purpose was to describe the incidence and risk factors of congestive heart failure (CHF) among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We included 2053 children (≤18 years) with first primary ALL and AML diagnosed 1992-2010 and registered in the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Networked Information System. We identified CHF events through linked administrative databases. At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of CHF was 1.7% in ALL and 7.5% in AML. Factors associated with CHF in ALL were female gender, age <1 year at cancer diagnosis, irradiation and cumulative anthracycline dose ≥250 mg/m². Irradiation was the only risk factor in AML patients. Of the 23 patients with CHF during active therapy, one developed CHF following treatment completion. Incidence of CHF were 1.7% in ALL and 7.5% in AML. Most with CHF during active therapy did not develop CHF after treatment completion.

Keywords: ALL; AML; Cardiotoxicity after cancer therapy; anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity; congestive heart failure; irradiation.