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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can persistently augment immune and inflammatory pathways. While cardiovascular immune-related adverse events (irAE) such as myocarditis are well identified, less is known about other potential cardiovascular effects of ICI.¹ Given the association between inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, it is conceivable that ICI may increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Our objective was to evaluate the risk of MACE in patients with melanoma after initiation of ICI.

We conducted a before-after study of patients identified in the Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, from 2011 to 2021, who received approved ICI and had International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9/10 claims diagnoses of melanoma. We required that patients in the cohort have a minimum of 12 months of observable data before …