Determining Risk Factors Associated with Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with Acute Leukemia: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute leukemia (AL) are at heightened risk of cardiovascular complications due to both disease-related and treatment-related factors. These complications include heart failure, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and thromboembolic events which may significantly impact morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the risk factors contributing to cardiovascular complications in patients with acute leukemia.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA reporting guideline. Multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 2020 and 2024. Eligible studies included those analyzing cardiovascular risk factors in AL patients across various subtypes and treatment stages. A total of 75 studies were included following rigorous screening and critical appraisal using tools appropriate for different study designs.

RESULTS

The results showed that cardiovascular complications in AL patients are multifactorial including demographic factors (e.g., age, sex, BMI), comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia), treatment exposures (e.g., anthracyclines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, radiation), and genetic predispositions (e.g., somatic and germline variants). Cardiac biomarkers (e.g., troponins, BNP), imaging (strain echocardiography), and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities were key factors in detecting early or subclinical damage. Complications occurred both during and years after treatment, especially in childhood and long-term survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular complications are prevalent, and serious consequences in AL patients necessitate a personalized, multidisciplinary approach to risk stratification and monitoring. Considering clinical, genetic, and biomarker data can improve early detection and preventive strategies, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.