Journal: Haematologica
This study evaluated long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in adolescents and young adults (AYA, aged 16-39) who survived classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) for at least two years after treatment with ABVD or equivalent chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy (RT).
Over a median follow-up of 17 years, cHL survivors had a 2.9-fold increased risk of CVD compared to controls, including:
- 5.2-fold higher risk of heart failure (HF)
- 2.4-fold higher risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD)
Key findings include:
- HF risk correlated with anthracycline chemotherapy exposure.
- Elevated IHD risk was linked to radiotherapy (RT).
- At 20 years post-treatment, cumulative incidence of HF was 4.3% versus 0.8% in controls.
- Cumulative incidence of IHD was 8.3% versus 2.8% in controls.
Since 2005, PET scan-guided treatment has reduced RT use and was associated with a significantly lower 15-year IHD incidence, comparable to controls.
Overall, 20-year mortality remained higher in cHL survivors (5.0%) compared to controls (2.0%).
These findings highlight the need for tailored cardiovascular surveillance and risk reduction strategies in AYA cHL survivors.