2.2. Study Participants
valve disease, sarcoma, chronic kidney disease, breast cancer
MAY, SOLID TUMOUR, SARCOMA, BREAST CANCER
A total of 48 women with solid tumours, specifically breast cancer (46) and sarcoma (2), scheduled for anthracycline therapy and possessing an elevated heart rate (>75 BPM) at Vilnius University hospital “Santaros Clinics” between May 2019 and January 2022 were in included in the study.Medical oncologists referred patients to the cardiologist before anthracycline-based chemotherapy for baseline cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification [Eligibility requirements included an age of at least 18 years, planned chemotherapy with AC, resting HR >75 BPM on electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood pressure measurements. Before the ECG, patients rested for 10 min. After the ECG, the heart rate was obtained twice with a 5 min break to measure vital signs. The study only included patients whose heart rate was >75 BPM on all three measurements from the ECG and blood pressure manometer. Exclusion criteria included contraindications for ivabradine administration; concomitant use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and beta-blocker (BB); chronic kidney disease (GFR < 30 mL/min.); baseline LVEF < 50%; inability to complete informed consent; severe valve disease; other severe conditions; and poor echogenicity. Patients with AF were excluded from the study as a contraindication to ivabradine.