Both intermuscular fat and LVEF decline promote heart failure symptoms in cancer survivors

Approximately 20% of cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy experience worsening heart failure (HF) symptoms post-cancer treatment. While research has predominantly investigated the role of cardiotoxic treatments, much less attention has focused on other risk factors, such as adiposity. However, emerging data in cancer survivors indicates that adiposity may also impact a variety of cardiovascular outcomes.

In a prospective study of 62 patients diagnosed with cancer followed for 24 months from cancer diagnosis through to survivorship (post-cancer treatment), we ascertained baseline fat depots including intermuscular fat (IMF) of the erector spinae muscles; and pre- and post-cancer treatment left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and HF symptoms at baseline and 24-months, respectively. Linear regression was used to model independent variables in relation to HF symptoms at 24-months.

Baseline IMF and LVEF change over 24-months significantly interacted to predict HF score at 24-months. The highest HF symptom score was observed for participants who experienced high IMF at baseline and a high decline in LVEF over 24-months (HF score = 11.0) versus all other categories of baseline IMF and LVEF change.

Together IMF and LVEF decline may play an important role in the worsening of HF symptoms in cancer survivors. The finding that IMF at cancer diagnosis led to elevated HF scores post-treatment suggests that IMF may be a potential target for intervention studies.