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April 27, 2026BMC Cardiovascular Disorders0 citationsOpen Access

The clinical utility of the HFA–ICOS risk proforma for predicting heart failure hospitalization in a real-world cohort of multiple myeloma patients

MHMei Han HoCLCalvin LeungCLChung Yin Leung

Key Result

The HFA-ICOS risk proforma significantly predicted heart failure hospitalization, with high/very-high-risk multiple myeloma patients having a 6.39-fold higher risk compared to low-risk patients.

Key Points

  • This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the HFA-ICOS CV risk proforma in predicting heart failure hospitalization (HFH) and cardiovascular mortality among multiple myeloma patients.
  • Evaluated 419 multiple myeloma patients from 2012 to 2023 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
  • Patients stratified into low, medium, and high/very-high-risk groups using the HFA-ICOS proforma.
  • Statistical analyses conducted with log-rank tests, Cox regression, and ROC analysis.
  • 3-year cumulative HFH incidences were 4.3% (low-risk), 11.1% (medium-risk), and 28.3% (high/very-high-risk), p < 0.001.
  • Significant predictors of HFH identified include advanced age, prior heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease, p < 0.001.
  • C-statistic for the risk proforma was 0.706, indicating moderate predictive ability (p < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=419)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does the HFA-ICOS risk proforma predict heart failure hospitalization in multiple myeloma patients receiving proteasome inhibitors or immunomodulating agents?

P
Population
419 consecutive adult patients with multiple myeloma receiving proteasome inhibitors or immunomodulating agents at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong between 2012 and 2023 (mean age 68 ± 11 years, 52.5% male).
I
Intervention
Risk stratification using the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) cardiovascular risk proforma.
O
Outcome
Heart failure hospitalization (HFH) within 3 years of multiple myeloma diagnosis.hard clinical

The HFA-ICOS risk proforma effectively stratifies multiple myeloma patients receiving cardiotoxic therapies into distinct risk categories for heart failure hospitalization, supporting its clinical utility in a real-world setting.

Main Result

Effect estimate: SHR 6.39 (95% CI 2.99-13.67)

Absolute Event Rate: 28.3% vs 4.3%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

  • Retrospective design
  • Single-center study
  • Missing data treated as a negative finding for specific risk factors
  • Retrospective assignment of risk groups
  • Incomplete echocardiography data
  • Treating absent variables as negative findings may introduce misclassification bias
  • Potential underdiagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis
  • Small number of patients in the high-risk group requiring combination with very-high-risk
  • Unmeasured confounders
  • Focus on Asian patients may limit generalizability

Abstract

Real-life data on cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification among multiple myeloma (MM) patients is scarce. This study aims to evaluate the utility of the CV risk stratification proforma by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology and the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) in predicting heart failure hospitalization (HFH) and CV mortality in MM patients. A total of 419 consecutive MM patients receiving proteasome inhibitors or immunomodulating agents at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong between 2012 and 2023 (mean age 68 ± 11 years, 52.5% male) were recruited. Data pertaining to comorbidities, medications, laboratory tests and CV events were retrieved through electronic medical system. Patients were stratified into low-risk (n = 184), medium-risk (n = 150), and combined high/very-high-risk (n = 85) groups using the HFA-ICOS CV risk proforma. Statistical analyses with log-rank tests, multivariable Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis were done with R v.4.4.3 and SPSS 29 to assess the role of individual risk factor and the risk proforma. After a median follow-up of 35 months (IQR 17–63), the 3-year cumulative incidences of HFH were 4.3% in the low-risk group, 11.1% in the medium-risk group, and 28.3% in the high-/very-high-risk group (log-rank p < 0.001). The 3-year cumulative incidences of CV mortality were 1.4%, 5.1%, and 11.8%, respectively, with a trend toward increased risk across groups (log-rank p = 0.084). Multivariable Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model identified advanced age (SHR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.08; p = 0.024), prior heart failure (SHR: 3.96; 95% CI: 1.90–8.24; p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (SHR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.01–5.24; p = 0.048) and chronic kidney disease (SHR: 4.34; 95% CI: 2.22–8.48; p < 0.001) as most significant predictors of HFH. Comparing with low-risk group, medium-risk group patients had significantly increased incidence of HFH (SHR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.02–5.18; p = 0.045). Likewise, high-/very-high-risk group showed higher incidence of HFH (SHR: 6.39; 95% CI: 2.99–13.67; p < 0.001). The C-statistic of the risk proforma was 0.706 (95% CI: 0.63–0.78; p < 0.001). The HFA-ICOS risk proforma demonstrated significant role in identifying MM patients at risk for HFH in a real-world setting.

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Cite This Study

Ho et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Multiple myeloma (n=419). HFA-ICOS risk proforma (High/Very-high risk category) vs. Low-risk category was evaluated on Heart failure hospitalization (HFH) within 3 years (SHR 6.39, 95% CI 2.99-13.67, p=<0.001). The HFA-ICOS risk proforma significantly predicted heart failure hospitalization, with high/very-high-risk multiple myeloma patients having a 6.39-fold higher risk compared to low-risk patients.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69eefd15fede9185760d3e48https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-05895-6
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