Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Fitness in Patients With Subclinical Markers of Cardiotoxicity While Receiving Chemotherapy: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.

PURPOSE: Heart failure (HF) due to cardiotoxicity is a leading non-cancer-related cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with HF, but little is known about its effects on cardiotoxicity in the cancer population. The objective of this study was to determine whether participation in CR improves CRF in patients undergoing treatment with either doxorubicin or trastuzumab who exhibit markers of subclinical cardiotoxicity. METHODS: Female patients with cancer (n = 28: breast, n = 1: leiomyosarcoma) and evidence of subclinical cardiotoxicity (ie, >10% relative decrease in global longitudinal strain or a cardiac troponin of >40 ng·L -1 ) were randomized to 10 wk of CR or usual care. Exercise consisted of 3 d/wk of interval training at 60-90% of heart rate reserve. RESULTS: Cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by peak oxygen uptake (V˙ o2peak ), improved in the CR group (16.9 + 5.0 to 18.5 + 6.0 mL∙kg -1 ∙min -1 ) while it decreased in the usual care group (17.9 + 3.9 to 16.9 + 4.0 mL∙kg -1 ∙min -1 ) ( P = .009). No changes were observed between groups with respect to high-sensitivity troponin or global longitudinal strain. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of CR may be a viable option to attenuate the reduction in CRF that occurs in patients undergoing cardiotoxic chemotherapy. The long-term effects of exercise on chemotherapy-induced HF warrant further investigation.

Tailored exercise as a protective tool in cardio-oncology rehabilitation: a narrative review / Ejercicio individualizado como herramienta protectora en la rehabilitación cardio-oncológica: revisión narrativa

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of long-term morbidity and death among cancer survivors, after second malignancies. Preventing cancer treatment-induced cardiotoxicity (CTC) constitutes a crucial endpoint in oncology, from oncology treatment implementation. The American Association of Clinical Oncology has recently highlighted the role of physical exercise as an essential component of co-adjuvant cancer treatment and cancer survivor care programs. Exercise training may protect from cardiotoxicity on a molecular and physiological basis. Two major types of training in this field are: cardiovascular and resistance/strength training. Little is known about the effects of these modalities of exercise on CTC. This narrative review aimed to gather evidence and extract conclusions about the effectiveness of exercise training on CTC. To do so, we reviewed scientific literature under a sophisticated approach in line with the PRISMA project guidelines. Studies on physical training exercise effects and cardiac-related measures throughout the cancer stages (cancer treatment and survivorship) were selected. Data collection comprised extracting information of study features, exercise training characteristics and related effects. As a result, 1087 studies were retrieved from database search and 33 studies were selected, comprising 2778 participants. Most of the studies (n = 29) examined the effects of cardiovascular training on CTC. No studies analysed the effects of resistance-based training. We observed a lack of systematic effect of exercise across studies due to the high heterogeneity (e.g., many studies did not follow the guidelines for training interventions in cancer settings). However, studies combining both cardiovascular and resistance components showed promising results. To sum up, higher adherence to clinical guides should be encouraged to implement physical exercise interventions in medical settings and to ensure intervention effectiveness. Moreover, personalized protocols and routines should be implemented in Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation Units. Finally, it is mandatory to avoid physical inactivity in patients with cancer

La patología cardiovascular es la primera causa de morbilidad y muerte entre los pacientes supervivientes de cáncer, después de segundas neoplasias. La prevención de cardiotoxicidades inducidas por tratamientos oncológicos constituye una meta en la Oncología. La Asociación Americana de la Oncología Clínica recientemente ha destacado la importancia del ejercicio físico como componente coadyuvante esencial en el tratamiento contra el cáncer. El ejercicio físico puede dar protección en la cardiotoxicidad desde un punto de vista molecular y fisiológico. Dos tipos de entrenamiento destacan: entrenamiento cardiovascular y de fuerza. Esta revisión pretende recoger evidencia y extraer conclusiones sobre la efectividad del ejercicio físico ante la cardiotoxicidad. Para ello revisamos la literatura científica bajo criterios PRISMA. Estudios basados en el efecto del ejercicio físico y mediciones cardiacas a lo largo de procesos oncológicos (tratamiento oncológicos y supervivientes) fueron seleccionados. Como resultado, 1087 estudios fueron recuperados y 33 estudios fueron seleccionados, comprendiendo 2778 sujetos. La mayoría de los estudios (n=29) examinaron el efecto del entrenamiento cardiovascular en la cardiotoxicidad. No hubo estudios que analizaran exclusivamente el entrenamiento de Fuerza. Observamos una escasez de efecto sistémico a lo largo debido a la alta heterogeneidad. De cualquier modo, los estudios combinando entrenamiento cardiovascular y de fuerza parecen demostrar resultados prometedores. En resumen, las guías clínicas deberían animar a implementar programas de ejercicio físico en el entorno médico y garantizar intervenciones efectivas. Asimismo, deberían implementarse protocolos individualizados en unidades de Rehabilitación Cardio-Oncológica. Finalmente, resulta imperativo promover el mensaje de evitar la inactividad física en el paciente oncológico