A Retrospective Analysis of the Association of Obesity with Anthracycline and Trastuzumab-Induced Cardiotoxicity in the Treatment of Breast Cancer and Lymphoma

Background: Trastuzumab and anthracyclines are mainstays of chemotherapy in breast cancer and lymphoma patients. We aimed to assess the relationship between obesity and the risk of developing chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity.A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who received trastuzumab or anthracyclines at our tertiary care center. Bivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association between demographic and clinical variables with cardiotoxicity status. Two multivariate logistic regression models were generated to assess whether BMI was independently associated with cardiotoxicity.Of the 368 patients receiving either trastuzumab or anthracyclines, 16 patients developed cardiotoxicity. Demographically, age, race, BMI, BSA, and weight did not differ between the patients who developed cardiotoxicity and those who did not. The mean dose of anthracycline and trastuzumab did not differ between the patients who developed cardiotoxicity and those who did not. Obesity was not found to increase the odds of developing cardiotoxicity and was slightly protective. A non-significant decrease in the odds of developing cardiotoxicity was found for every one-unit increase in BMI. In a multivariable model using BMI as a continuous predictor and controlling for BMI, age, hypertension, chemotherapy type and coronary artery disease, the only significant predictor of cardiotoxicity was a previous history of arrhythmia.Obesity was not a significant risk factor for patients developing cardiotoxicity from trastuzumab or anthracycline based chemotherapy and may be a protective factor for cardiotoxicity. Additional studies with greater statistical power are needed to further evaluate this effect and independently evaluate obesity as a risk factor for cardiotoxicity.