Background: Patients with cancer have a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) levels and cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer.
Methods: Serum HE4 levels in 316 obese patients with breast cancer were measured at baseline and then prospectively followed up for approximately 36 months. The prognostic value of serum HE4 for predicting cardiovascular events was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model.
Results: Serum HE4 was significantly associated with CVD history after adjustment for confounding factors (OR= 1.50; 95% CI 1.23– 3.43; P= 0.038) using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis suggested that serum HE4 had an independent prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in patients with breast cancer (HR=2.21, 95% CI 1.60– 5.13, P < 0.001). Additionally, sensitivity analysis showed that the independent association still existed. Stratified analysis showed that this relationship was not affected by chemoradiotherapy.
Conclusion: Serum HE4 is significantly related to cardiovascular events and poses good prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer. Serum HE4 may be a valuable indicator for the early detection of cardiovascular complications in obese patients with breast cancer.
Keywords: human epididymis protein 4, radiotherapy, breast cancer, cardiovascular events, prognostic value, obese