title: Cardiovascular Comorbidities and Events in NSCLC: Often Underestimated but Worth Considering.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cardiovascular (CV) disease often share a comparable demographic profile. The aim of this analysis was to assess the significance and prevalence of preexisting CV comorbidity and events in NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 715 consecutive NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 at the Medical University of Innsbruck were retrospectively assessed regarding CV comorbidities, risk factors, cancer treatment, CV events occurring after the start of treatment, and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one CV comorbidity was present in 462 (67.2%) of 687 evaluable patients. CV events were documented in 68 patients (9.5%), with conduction disorders being the most prevalent (n = 19), followed by cardiomyopathy (n = 13), myocardial infarction (n = 13), sudden CV death (n = 12), need of revascularization (n = 6), and pericardial effusion (n = 5). Median time between diagnosis of NSCLC and CV event was 13.9 months. CV comorbidities and events both showed a direct correlation with increasing age, affecting up to 87.3% and 35.2% of all octogenarians in the study, respectively. The following CV comorbidities were significantly associated with CV events: atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy. Overall survival was not reduced in patients experiencing a CV event compared to patients without an event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CV disease and events are frequently observed in NSCLC patients. To provide definitive recommendations on impact, prevention, and screening of CV disease in NSCLC, prospective trials are desirable.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine V (Hematology and Oncology), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: florian.kocher@i-med.ac.at.
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Kocher
authors: Department of Internal Medicine V (Hematology and Oncology), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Fiegl
authors: Department of Internal Medicine V (Hematology and Oncology), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Hematology and CBMT, Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Mian
authors: Department of Internal Medicine V (Hematology and Oncology), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Wilhelminenspital Wien, Department of Internal Medicine I (Hematology and Oncology), Vienna, Austria.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Hilbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cardiovascular comorbidities; Cardiovascular events; NSCLC; Outcome; Risk factors