Aromatase Inhibitors Not Linked to CAC in Postoperative Breast Cancer Patients
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Sept. 17, 2024 -- For postoperative patients with breast cancer, the duration of aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment is not associated with the risk for coronary artery calcium (CAC), according to a study published online Sept. 17 in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Yu Hiasa, M.D., from the Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine in Toon, Japan, and colleagues examined the potential association between duration of AI treatment and severity of CAC among outpatients who initiated adjuvant endocrine therapy with AIs for breast cancer.
The researchers found that 44.8 percent of the 357 patients exhibited CAC. The groups had no significant difference in AI treatment duration. Compared with those without CAC, patients with CAC were older (74.39 versus 63.06 years), had lower hemoglobin levels (12.60 versus 13.20 g/dL), and had a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (62.80 versus 72.00 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients with CAC had significantly higher prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. There was no correlation observed between AI treatment duration and CAC score. Older age, lower hemoglobin levels, and presence of hypertension and diabetes were independent risk factors for CAC in postoperative patients with breast cancer.
"Although there is an ongoing discussion on the optimal duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy (five years or 10 years), our data suggest that longer aromatase inhibitor use (as often used to prevent or suppress late recurrences or spread of breast cancer) is safe, at least in regard to coronary artery calcification," Hiasa said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
Low-to-Moderate Agreement Seen for Diagnosing Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
THURSDAY, April 24, 2025 -- Different measurement tools and diagnostic criteria show low-to-moderate agreement for diagnosing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), according to...
Patients Mainly Prefer AI as Second Reader for Screening Mammogram
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025 -- Use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a second reader in screening mammography is accepted by patients, according to a study published online April...
Breast Cancer Outcomes Improved With History of Screening Mammography
MONDAY, April 21, 2025 -- Prior screening mammography is associated with earlier stage at breast cancer diagnosis and lower breast cancer mortality, according to a study published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.