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. 2023 Aug 5;9(1):32.
doi: 10.1186/s40959-023-00183-0.

Screening and management of dyslipidemia in oncologic patients undergoing cardiotoxic therapies: results from an Italian survey

Massimiliano Camilli  1   2 , Irma Bisceglia  3 , Maria Laura Canale  4 , Fabio Maria Turazza  5 , Leonardo De Luca  6 , Domenico Gabrielli  6 , Michele Massimo Gulizia  7   8 , Fabrizio Oliva  9 , Furio Colivicchi  10
Affiliations

Screening and management of dyslipidemia in oncologic patients undergoing cardiotoxic therapies: results from an Italian survey

Massimiliano Camilli et al. Cardiooncology. .

Abstract

Background: Baseline cardiovascular risk factors correction is recommended in all cancer patients undergoing potentially cardiotoxic therapies. Despite available guidelines, real-world data on dyslipidemia prevalence and management in the oncologic population are still sparse.

Methods: This survey was an Italian, investigator-initiated survey initially designed and drafted by the Cardio-Oncology section of the Associazione Nazionale Medici Cardiologi Ospedalieri (ANMCO), comprising 10 individual multi-choice questions and spread after validation through the ANMCO mailing list. The survey was sent to cardiologists working in cardio-oncology units and/or managing patients with cancer.

Results: Our survey included 139 Italian cardiologists. The majority of them routinely ask for the baseline lipidic profile of their patients, regardless of previous clinical history and planned treatment. According to our participants, the estimated prevalence of dyslipidemia in this population is between 20% and 60%. Although this high prevalence, our results highlight that there is poor harmony in terms of scores for CV risk prediction used in clinical practice to guide drug prescription and baseline therapy optimization. On the same line, coronary artery calcium score is poorly used in this setting. At the same time, more than 30% of interrogated physicians do not prescribe adequate statin doses, even though necessary, and have uncertainties on the use of other anti-dyslipidemic drugs in this population.

Conclusions: Our results highlight the necessity of strong evidences on dyslipidemia screening and management in the cancer population, as well as the need of knowledge diffusion from scientific societies to clinicians treating these patients.

Keywords: Cardio-oncology; Dyslipidemia; National survey; Statins; cancer patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Questions proposed to the audience Legends. PCSK9: proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Main results of the survey on screening and management of dyslipidemia in cancer patients Legends. ACC/AHA: American College of Cardiology/America Heart Association; ESC: European Society of Cardiology; PCSK9i: proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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