Association of aromatase inhibitors with coronary heart disease in women with early breast cancer

Cancer Invest. 2014 May;32(4):99-104. doi: 10.3109/07357907.2014.880452. Epub 2014 Feb 18.

Abstract

As compared to tamoxifen aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may increase the risk of heart disease. Here we explored the association between the use of AIs and coronary artery disease (CAD) in a population-based observational study. In a small and heterogeneous population of 74 women with early breast cancer who received adjuvant hormonal therapy and subsequently underwent cardiac angiography, AIs significantly increased the hazard for CAD (HR 3.23, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.26-8.25, p = .01) compared to tamoxifen. Our results suggest that therapy with AIs may increase the risk for CAD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / adverse effects*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease / chemically induced*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Tamoxifen