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Published on: July 3, 2014
Exercise-based cardio-oncology rehabilitation for cardiotoxicity prevention during breast cancer chemotherapy: The
Estíbaliz Díaz-Balboa1, Carlos Peña-Gil2, Beatriz Rodríguez-Romero3
1University of A Coruña, Department of Physiotherapy, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Campus de Oza, A Coruña 15071, Spain; Cardiology Department, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS); Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
Background:
Breast cancer (BC) treatment with anthracyclines and/or anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) antibodies is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease complications, including cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). While Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORe) programs including exercise have emerged to minimize these risks, its role in preventing CTRCD is unclear.
Objectives:
We investigated the effectiveness of an exercise-based CORe program in preventing CTRCD [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) drop ≥10% to a value <53% or a decrease >15% in global longitudinal strain (GLS)]. Secondary outcomes examined changes in cardiac biomarkers, physical performance including peak oxygen consumption, psychometric and lifestyle outcomes. Safety, adherence, and patient satisfaction were also assessed.
Methods:
This is a randomized controlled trial including 122 early-stage BC women receiving anthracyclines and/or anti-HER2 antibodies, randomized to CORe (n = 60) or usual care with exercise recommendation (n = 62). Comprehensive assessments were performed at baseline and after cardiotoxic treatment completion. The average duration of the intervention was 5.8 months.
Results:
No cases of CTRCD were identified during the study. LVEF decreased in both groups, but was significantly attenuated in the CORe group [-1.5% (-2.9, -0.1); p = 0.006], with no changes detected in GLS or cardiac biomarkers. The CORe intervention led to significant body mass index (BMI) reduction (p = 0.037), especially in obese patients [3.1 kg/m2 (1.3, 4.8)]. Physical performance and quality-of-life remained stable, while physical activity level increased in both groups. No adverse events were detected.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that CORe programs are safe and may help attenuate LVEF decline in BC women receiving cardiotoxic therapy and reduce BMI in obese patients.
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