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BACKGROUND With increasing diagnoses and available treatment options for transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), risk stratification of ATTR-CM patients is imperative. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that diuretic dose and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class are independent predictors of mortality in ATTR-CM and would be incrementally additive to existent risk scores. METHODS Consecutive ATTR-CM patients referred to a single center were identified. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models determined the association between diuretic dose (furosemide equivalent in mg/kg) at time of diagnosis and the primary outcome of all-cause mortality. The incremental value of adding diuretic dose and NYHA functional class to existing ATTR-CM risk scores was assessed for discrimination and calibration. RESULTS 309 patients were identified, with mean age 73.2 ± 9.8 years, 84.1% male, and 66% wild type. Daily mean diuretic dose was 0.6 ± 1.0 mg/kg and significantly associated with all-cause mortality (unadjusted hazard ratio: 2.12 per 1-mg/kg increase, [95% confidence interval: 1.71 to 2.61] and fully adjusted hazard ratio: 1.43 [95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.93]). Testing previously published ATTR risk scores, adding diuretic dose as categories (0 mg/kg, >0 to 0.5 mg/kg, >0.5 to 1 mg/kg, and >1 to 2 mg/kg) improved the area under the curve of the Mayo risk score from 0.693 to 0.767 and the UK risk score from 0.711 to 0.787 while preserving calibration. Adding NYHA functional class further improved the area under the curve to 0.798 and 0.816, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Diuretic dose and NYHA functional class are independent predictors of mortality in ATTR-CM patients and provide incremental value to existing ATTR-CM risk scores.

There is conflicting evidence whether heart failure (HF) is a risk factor for incident cancer. Despite population-based cohorts demonstrating this association, an analysis of the Physician's Health Study found no association in a cohort of mostly healthy males. We investigated the association of HF with incident cancer among a large cohort of post-menopausal women.

Increasing evidence suggests a multifaceted relationship exists between cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, we introduce a 5-tier classification system to categorize cardio-oncology syndromes (COS) that represent the aspects of the relationship between cancer and CVD. COS Type I is characterized by mechanisms whereby the abrupt onset or progression of cancer can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction. COS Type II includes the mechanisms by which cancer therapies can result in acute or chronic CVD. COS Type III is characterized by the pro-oncogenic environment created by the release of cardiokines and high oxidative stress in patients with cardiovascular dysfunction. COS Type IV is comprised of CVD therapies and diagnostic procedures which have been associated with promoting or unmasking cancer. COS Type V is characterized by factors causing systemic and genetic predisposition to both CVD and cancer. The development of this framework may allow for an increased facilitation of cancer care while optimizing cardiovascular health through focused treatment targeting the COS type.