Orly Leiva, Steven Soo, Olivia C Liu, Victor You, Andrew Stephen Palmer, Justin Abraham Kahla, Yasmeen Murtaza, Olatoyosi Odenike, Anand Patel, Jeanne DeCara, Patrycja M. Dubielecka, Max Petersen, Michelle H Lee, Joan How, Gabriela Hobbs
ABSTRACT: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), are a diverse group of hematopoietic stem cell neoplasms associated with an increased risk of hematologic progression to secondary MF or leukemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated total cholesterol levels are traditional CVD risk factors. Patients with MPNs may have reduced cholesterol levels, potentially reflecting an underlying hypermetabolic state. The impact of serum total cholesterol on clinical outcomes in patients with MPNs has not yet been evaluated. We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with MPNs who had transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with available serum lipid levels at time of TTE not on statin therapy. Patients were categorized by total cholesterol level (≥150, 120-149, and <120 mg/dL). Outcomes evaluated were MPN disease progression to secondary MF or acute leukemia, major adverse cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Multivariable competing-risk regression modeling was performed. A total of 305 patients were included of whom 54.4% had total cholesterol ≥150 mg/dL, 21.3% had 120 to 149 mg/dL, and 24.3% had <120 mg/dL. After a median follow-up of 50.8 months, total cholesterol <120 mg/dL was associated with increased risk of MPN disease progression (adjusted subhazard ratio, 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-6.63), heart failure hospitalization (aSHR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.77-7.96), and all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.06-3.30) vs ≥150 mg/dL. Among patients with MPN, low total cholesterol levels were associated with increased risk of MPN disease progression and death especially among patients with ET or PV.