Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Predictors of Cardiovascular Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular immune-related adverse events (CV-irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may have been underreported given that most previous reports were retrospective. We aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of CV-irAEs and determine the feasibility of serial cardiac monitoring using a combination of B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin T, and electrocardiogram for the prediction of future symptomatic (grade ≥2) CV-irAEs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective observational study that included 129 consecutive patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who received ICI monotherapy at a single center. Serial cardiac monitoring was performed during ICI monotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 35 (27%) patients developed any grade ≥1 CV-irAEs with a median time of onset of 72 (interquartile range 44-216) days after ICI treatment initiation. Multivariate Fine-Gray regression analysis showed that prior acute coronary syndrome (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.15 (95% [CI], 2.03-4.91), prior heart failure hospitalization (adjusted HR 1.65 [95% CI, 1.17-2.33]), and achievement of disease control (adjusted HR 1.91, [95% CI, 1.16-3.14]) were significantly associated with grade ≥1 CV-irAEs. Serial cardiac monitoring revealed that patients with preceding grade 1 CV-irAEs were associated with a significantly higher risk of onset of grade ≥2 CV-irAEs compared with those without preceding grade 1 CV-irAEs (HR: 6.17 [95% CI, 2.97-12.83]).

CONCLUSION

CV-irAEs were more common than previously recognized and have several predictors. Moreover, serial cardiac monitoring may be feasible for the prediction of future grade ≥2 CV-irAEs.