Lifestyle Interventions to Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence

Effectiveness of a Cardiovascular Health Electronic Health Record Application for Cancer Survivors in Community Oncology Practice: Results From WF-1804CD

PURPOSE

Guidelines recommend cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment and counseling for cancer survivors. This study evaluated the automated heart-health assessment (AH-HA) clinical decision support tool to promote provider-patient CV health (CVH) discussions in outpatient oncology.

METHODS

The AH-HA trial (WF-1804CD), coordinated by the Wake Forest National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program Research Base, randomized practices to the AH-HA tool or usual care (UC) and enrolled survivors receiving routine care ≥6 months after curative cancer treatment. The tool displayed American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 CVH factors (BMI, physical activity, diet, smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose), populated from the electronic health record (EHR), alongside cancer treatments received with cardiotoxic potential. The primary end point was survivor-reported discussion of nonideal or missing CVH factors. A mixed-effects logistic regression model assessed the effect of AH-HA on CVH discussions, adjusting for practice.

RESULTS

Five UC and four AH-HA practices enrolled 645 survivors (82% breast, 8% endometrial, 5% colorectal, and 5% lymphoma, prostate, or multiple types) from October 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023. Most survivors were female (96%; 84% White/non-Hispanic, 8% Black; 3% Hispanic). Nearly all survivors (98%) in AH-HA practices reported a discussion for ≥1 nonideal or missing CVH factor compared with 55% in UC (P < .001). The average number of survivor-reported factors discussed was higher in AH-HA compared with UC (mean, 4.06 v 1.27; P < .001), as were EHR-documented discussions (3.83 v 0.77; P = .03). Survivors in AH-HA practices were also significantly more likely to report a recommendation to see a primary care provider (39%) compared with UC practices (25%, P = .02). Reported recommendations to see a cardiologist were low (approximately 6%) and did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

The AH-HA tool was effective at promoting CVH discussions during routine follow-up care for survivors and recommendations to consult primary care.

The Risk of Cancer-Associated and Radiotherapy-Associated Cardiovascular Diseases among Patients with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

The cardio-related issues should be emphasized as the survival rates of breast cancer increased. We investigated the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke due to breast cancer or radiotherapy.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 were recruited from Taiwan Cancer Registry Database and were followed until the end of 2018 by linking with the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. The general population was randomly selected from the whole population in 2007. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated to compare the risk of CAD and stroke between patients and the general population. Within the cohort, we included the patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2016. Cox proportional hazards model and subdistribution hazard function were used to investigate the associations of radiotherapy with the risk of CAD and stroke.

RESULTS

Overall SIR of CAD was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.86), while were 1.43 and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.30-1.55 and 1.00-1.16) 1 and 2 years after diagnosis, respectively. Overall SIR of stroke was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.60-0.67), the results were similar after considering the time since diagnosis. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for the associations of radiotherapy with CAD and stroke risk were 0.91 (95% [CI] = 0.76-1.09) and 0.84 (95% CI = 0.68-1.04), respectively. The results were similar by using subdistribution hazard function.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of CAD was higher within the first 2 years of breast cancer diagnosis. We found no association between radiotherapy and the risk of CAD and stroke.

Inflammation, Nutrition, and Clinical Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of death among women aged 44-55 years globally. Pro-inflammatory food can cause tissue-level inflammation, thereby creating a carcinogenic microenvironment and promoting breast cancer. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the association between inflammation and nutrition and clinical outcomes in breast cancer survivors.

RECENT FINDINGS

Pro-inflammatory diets are associated with a higher mortality risk after diagnosis and worse prognosis after treatment. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory diets may improve tissue-level inflammation and improve the overall prognosis and quality of life of survivors. There is strong evidence that the Mediterranean diet in particular is associated with reduced recurrence risk of breast cancer and improved quality of life of survivors. This narrative review provides evidence that there is a strong association between inflammation, dietary habits, and adverse clinical outcomes in breast cancer survivors. It further discusses the current evidence for the role of dietary management in improving clinical outcomes in breast cancer survivors.

Breast cancer treatment and recovery: pets' roles as emotional buffers and stressors

BACKGROUND

Research suggests pets foster affection, connection, and physical activity, yet has failed to address the challenges people diagnosed with cancer face in caring for their pets. The objective of this study was to better understand how pets serve as emotional buffers and/or stressors for people diagnosed with breast cancer, and how their ability to meet their pet's needs affects their well-being.

METHODS

A cross-section study of people diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States was conducted. Adults diagnosed with stages 0 (in situ) -IV breast cancer and currently the primary guardian of at least one dog or cat and owned the animal(s) for at least 6 months, were recruited for the study. A total of 211 responses, obtained between July - November 2022 were analyzed. The survey included questions about participants' demographics; attachment to their pets; physical, emotional, and functional well-being; social support received from their pet; and 'pet parenting' concerns. Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe participants' demographics. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors of pet attachment, well-being, support from pet, and 'pet parenting' concerns.

RESULTS

People diagnosed with breast cancer derive substantial support from their pets (80% feel their pet makes them feel loved, needed, and offers a positive presence in the home), yet only 50% of participants feel this relationship is supported by their medical team. Controlling for owner demographics, heightened levels of pet-related guilt and concerns, along with lower perceived support from their pet, are all significant predictors of a lower quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the benefits pets offer people diagnosed with breast cancer, yet also the distress they feel in trying to meet their pet's needs. Assessment conversations about pet ownership, including pet-related support systems, are needed to validate people's concerns and support the identification and development of pet support teams. Medical team facilitated discussions about pet care needs is suggested to demonstrate support for the pet-parent bond and help normalize feelings of guilt related to challenges in meeting their pet's needs. These discussions could be aided through the development of research-driven intervention strategies and online, freely accessible targeted tools.

Evidence of Better Autonomic, Metabolic and Psychological Profile in Breast Cancer Survivors Meeting Current Physical Activity Recommendations: An Observational Study

The increased cardiometabolic risk observed in breast cancer survivors (BCS) is due to multiple mechanisms: Hormonal and immunological dysfunction are well-identified ones, while cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR) is less recognized but may play a new complementary role particularly relevant when considering conditions and behaviors associated with a better prognosis in BCS, such as physical training. This observational study investigated a group of consecutive (172) BCS subdivided in two groups: those who reached the physical activity goals above 600 (MET·min/week) and those who did not. We assessed CAR by autoregressive spectral analysis of cardiovascular variabilities (considering in particular the unitary autonomic nervous system index—ANSI), body mass composition, stress perception and lifestyle in order to verify possible differences due to execution of physical activity. Subjects who spontaneously met physical activity recommendations presented a better autonomic, metabolic and psychological profile compared to those who did not. Lower physical activity volume, poor metabolic parameters, increased stress and fatigue perception may cluster together, leading to worsened CAR. This control mechanism may play a complementary role in determining the increased cardiometabolic risk observed in BCS. Furthermore, it may also explain, albeit in part, the better prognosis observed in patients following interventions aiming to improve the sympathetic–parasympathetic balance, such as physical training, using a personalized medicine approach.

Trends in heart disease mortality among breast cancer survivors in the US, 1975-2017

Purpose

Heart disease is a significant concern among breast cancer survivors, in part due to cardiotoxic treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Long-term trends in heart disease mortality have not been well characterized. We examined heart disease mortality trends among US breast cancer survivors by treatment type.

Methods

We included first primary invasive breast cancer survivors diagnosed between 1975 and 2016 (aged 18–84; survived 12 + months; received initial chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery) in the SEER-9 Database. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 10-year cumulative heart disease mortality estimates accounting for competing events were calculated by calendar year of diagnosis and initial treatment regimen. P_trends were assessed using Poisson regression. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

Of 516,916 breast cancer survivors, 40,812 died of heart disease through 2017. Heart disease SMRs declined overall from 1975–1979 to 2010–2016 (SMR 1.01 [95%CI: 0.98, 1.03] to 0.74 [0.69, 0.79], p_trend < 0.001). This decline was also observed for survivors treated with radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. A sharper decline in heart disease SMRs was observed from 1975 to 1989 for left-sided radiotherapy, compared to right-sided. In contrast, there was a non-significant increasing trend in SMRs for chemotherapy alone, and significant by regional stage (p_trend = 0.036). Largest declines in 10-year cumulative mortality were observed from 1975–1984 to 2005–2016 among surgery only: 7.02% (95%CI: 6.80%, 7.23%) to 4.68% (95%CI: 4.39%, 4.99%) and radiotherapy alone: 6.35% (95%CI: 5.95%, 6.77%) to 2.94% (95%CI: 2.73%, 3.16%).

Conclusions

We observed declining heart disease mortality trends by most treatment types yet increasing for regional stage patients treated with chemotherapy alone, highlighting a need for additional studies with detailed treatment data and cardiovascular management throughout cancer survivorship.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-022-06515-5.

Rethinking Rehabilitation: A REVIEW OF PATIENT POPULATIONS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is safe and highly effective for individuals with various cardiovascular health conditions, to date there are only seven diagnoses or procedures identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that qualify for referral. When considering the growing number of individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), or other health conditions that increase the risk for CVD, it is important to determine the extent for which CR could benefit these populations. Furthermore, there are some patients who may currently be eligible for CR (spontaneous coronary artery dissection, left ventricular assistant device) but make up a relatively small proportion of the populations that are regularly attending and participating. Thus, these patient populations and special considerations for exercise might be less familiar to professionals who are supervising their programs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature surrounding exercise testing and programming among four specific patient populations that either do not currently qualify for (chronic and end-stage renal disease, breast cancer survivor) or who are eligible but less commonly seen in CR (sudden coronary artery dissection, left ventricular assist device). While current evidence suggests that individuals with these health conditions can safely participate in and may benefit from supervised exercise programming, there is an immediate need for high-quality, multisite clinical trials to develop more specific exercise recommendations and support the inclusion of these populations in future CR programs.

Exercise and cancer: a position statement from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology

Due to improvements in the number of cancer survivors and survival time, there is a growing interest in healthy behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), and their potential impact on cancer- and non-cancer-related morbidity in individuals with cancer. Commissioned by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), in this review, we sought to distill the most recent evidence on this topic, focusing on the mechanisms that underpin the effects of PA on cancer, the role of PA in cancer prevention and in the prognosis of cancer and practical recommendations for clinicians regarding PA counseling. Despite the available information, the introduction of exercise programs into the global management of cancer patients remains a challenge with several areas of uncertainty. Among others, the most effective behavioral interventions to achieve long-term changes in a patient’s lifestyle and the optimal intensity and duration of PA should be defined with more precision in future studies.

Increased skeletal intermuscular fat is associated with reduced exercise capacity in cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors experience on average a 20% reduction in peak exercise capacity (VO2 peak) post-cancer treatment. Intermuscular fat (IMF) is a strong predictor of reduced exercise capacity in heart failure (HF) patients; however it is unknown whether increased IMF is related to reduced VO2 peak in cancer survivors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty eight individuals: 14 cancer survivors > 12-months post-cancer treatment and 14 individuals without cancer were matched on age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments of IMF within the paraspinal muscles, VO2 peak and exercise-associated measures of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Blinded analyses were performed. Associations between the ratio of IMF to skeletal muscle (SM) were estimated using Pearson's partial correlation coefficients. Individuals with cancer and non-cancer comparators were of similar age (54 ± 17 versus 54 ± 15 years; p = 1.0), gender (5 men and 9 women, both groups), and BMI (27 ± 4 versus 26 ± 4; p = 0.57). Peak VO2 was 22% lower in cancer survivors versus non-cancer comparators (26.9 vs 34.3 ml/kg/min; p = 0.005), and was correlated with IMF:SM in both cancer survivors and non-cancer individuals after accounting for exercise-associated LVEF, resting LVEF, BMI, other body fat depots, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) co-morbidities (p < 0.001 to 0.08 for all adjusted correlations).

CONCLUSION

Among cancer survivors that previously received anthracyclines, increased intermuscular fat is associated with reduced VO2 peak even after accounting for exercise-associated cardiac function. This suggests IMF is important in the development of exercise intolerance, an outcome experienced by a large number of cancer survivors.

Novel Methods for Reporting of Exercise Dose and Adherence: An Exploratory Analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore whether methods adapted from oncology pharmacological trials have utility in reporting adherence (tolerability) of exercise treatment in cancer.

METHODS

Using a retrospective analysis of a randomized trial, 25 prostate cancer patients received an aerobic training regimen of 72 supervised treadmill walking sessions delivered thrice weekly between 55% and 100% of exercise capacity for 24 consecutive weeks. Treatment adherence (tolerability) was assessed using conventional (lost to follow-up and attendance) and exploratory (e.g., permanent discontinuation, dose modification, and relative dose intensity) outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean total cumulative "planned" and "completed" dose was 200.7 ± 47.6 and 153.8 ± 68.8 MET·h, respectively, equating to a mean relative dose intensity of 77% ± 24%. Two patients (8%) were lost to follow-up, and mean attendance was 79%. A total of 6 (24%) of 25 patients permanently discontinued aerobic training before week 24. Aerobic training was interrupted (missing ≥3 consecutive sessions) or dose reduced in a total of 11 (44%) and 24 (96%) patients, respectively; a total 185 (10%) of 1800 training sessions required dose reduction owing to both health-related (all nonserious) and non-health-related adverse events. Eighteen (72%) patients required at least one session to be terminated early; a total of 59 (3%) sessions required early termination.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel methods for the conduct and reporting of exercise treatment adherence and tolerability may provide important information beyond conventional metrics in patients with cancer.