Cardiovascular Health Considerations for Primary Care Physicians Treating Breast Cancer Survivors

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Breast cancer (BC) survivors have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Shared risk factors, including lifestyle and genetic predispositions, contribute to both BC and CVD.
• Certain cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can be cardiotoxic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize current evidence on cardiovascular health management in breast cancer survivors within primary care settings.
• To identify knowledge gaps among primary care physicians regarding BC survivorship and cardiovascular care.
• To provide guidance on assessing and managing cardiovascular risks in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a comprehensive PubMed literature review from July 2020 to April 2024.
• Utilized search terms combining "breast cancer survivors" and "cardiovascular" variations.
• Included 152 publications detailing cardiovascular risk factors, CVD prevalence, and treatment effects in BC survivors.

Main Results:

• BC survivors exhibit elevated rates of cardiovascular risk factors and established CVD.
• Anticancer therapies significantly impact cardiovascular health, necessitating vigilant monitoring.
• Overlapping risk factors for BC and CVD underscore the need for integrated management strategies.

Conclusions:

• Primary care physicians are essential in preventing, assessing, and managing cardiovascular health for breast cancer survivors.
• Effective management requires understanding the cardiotoxic effects of cancer treatments and shared risk factors.
• Referral to specialists is critical when complex cardiovascular issues arise in BC survivors.