Short- and long-term outcomes of patients with active cancer presenting with an acute coronary syndrome

Management of cancer patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may be challenging. In this study, we sought to examine whether and how a concomitant diagnosis of active cancer affects patients’ management and outcomes following an event of ACS.

We used a retrospective cohort data analysis of patients from the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey (ACSIS) carried out between the years 2016–2021 to compare patients with and without a concomitant diagnosis of active cancer.

Of 4913 patients who presented with an ACS, 90 (1.8%) patients had a concomitant active cancer. Cancer patients were older, with a higher prevalence of hypertension and chronic renal failure. The rate of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was similar (40%) between both groups. Cancer patients were less likely to undergo coronary angiography during hospitalization; but once it was performed, the rate of percutaneous coronary intervention was similar. The presence of cancer during an ACS was associated with an increased short- and long-term mortality. In a multivariate analysis, the risk for 1-year mortality remained significantly higher in cancer patient (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.74–4.24, p < 0.001), and was most prominent in patients presenting with STEMI (HR 5.00, 95% CI 2.40–10.39, p < 0.001). Short- and long-term death rates were also higher in cancer patients after a propensity score matching and adjustment for comorbidities other than cancer.

Despite significant advances in oncologic and cardiac care, the presence of active cancer in patients with an ACS is still associated with significantly increased risk for 1-year mortality.