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Frailty Meets Cardio-oncology: A New Frontier in Personalised Cancer Care
Ilaria Torre1, Lorenzo Tinti2, Ludovica Amore1,3
1Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy.
European Cardiology
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Frailty assessment in cancer patients may predict cardiovascular complications from novel therapies. Incorporating frailty screening can improve risk stratification and personalize treatment strategies for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardio-oncology
- Geriatric medicine
- Cancer therapy
Background:
- Novel cancer therapies improve survival but cause cardiovascular toxicity.
- Frailty, a syndrome of reduced physiological reserve, is linked to poor outcomes and cardiovascular disease.
- Shared mechanisms link frailty and cancer, potentially exacerbating cardiac damage from cancer treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of frailty in predicting cardiovascular complications in cancer patients undergoing novel therapies.
- To highlight the need for frailty assessment in cardio-oncology.
- To advocate for personalized therapeutic strategies based on frailty status.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on frailty, cancer therapies, and cardiovascular toxicity.
- Analysis of shared pathophysiological mechanisms.
- Synthesis of evidence on frailty as a predictive factor in cardio-oncology.
Main Results:
- Limited evidence currently supports frailty as a predictor of cardiovascular complications in the cardio-oncology setting.
- Frailty shares pathophysiological pathways with cancer and cancer therapies (e.g., inflammation, oxidative stress).
- Frailty is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and increased cardiovascular risk.
Conclusions:
- Frailty assessment is crucial for risk stratification in cancer patients.
- Integrating frailty screening can guide personalized treatment strategies in oncology.
- Further research is needed to solidify frailty's predictive role in cardio-oncology.
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