CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY Athletic PATIENTS WITH DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA AND THE RISK FACTORS AFFECTING CARDIOTOXICITY OF ANTHRACYCLINE

Abstract

Introduction: The clinical characteristics of elderly athletic patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the cardiotoxicity of anthracycline in this group are not well known. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of elderly athletic patients with DLBCL and to find out the risk factors affecting cardiotoxicity of anthracycline. Method: We retrospectively studied 176 elderly athletic patients (≥ 65 years old) with DLBCL treated at our hospital from January 2015 to December 2020. Clinical characteristics and laboratory indexes were analyzed. All athletic patients were followed until June 2021. Survival, short-term efficacy, recurrences, cardiotoxicity in athletic patients treated with chemotherapy were recorded. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 47 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 91 months. The 3-year PFS and OS were 54.1% and 70.1%, respectively; the 5-year PFS and OS were 47.7% and 64.1%, respectively. The objective remission rate (ORR) was 78.83%, of which the complete remission rate was 44.12%, and the partial remission rate was 34.71%; 143 athletic patients were treated with anthracycline, and 46 athletic patients experienced cardiotoxicity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that non-liposomal anthracycline use, no use of dextrexacin, and diabetes mellitus with complications were significant risk factors affecting cardiotoxicity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Elderly vpatients with DLBCL had high rates of cardiotoxicity. These findings suggest that attention should be paid to clinical characteristics and auxiliary examinations to prevent cardiotoxicity caused by anthracycline.