The annual Global Cardio-Oncology Summit was held in September, bringing together healthcare professionals in the context of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Here are six takeaways from the meeting, shared in a Nov. 10 post on the American Society of Clinical Oncology website:
- Whereas cardio-oncology typically focuses on cancer's effect on cardiovascular health, evidence is emerging that shows people with cardiovascular disease are at a higher risk of developing cancer and have worse outcomes from cancer after experiencing a cardiovascular event.
- Managing cardiovascular risk factors in patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy should extend beyond myocarditis, as evidence suggests the additional risk of accelerated atherosclerosis, which can lead to acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and stroke.
- An emphasis should be placed on predicting and preventing cardiovascular toxicity, specifically using a 2022 European Society of Cardiology cardio-oncology guideline that determines a patient's baseline risk of cardiotoxicity for nine cancer drugs and considering alternative therapies and prevention strategies.
- Global longitudinal strain surveillance may be more effective than echocardiograms in assessing myocardial deformation of the left ventricle for patients receiving cancer therapy.
- There is potential for less frequent cardiac imaging and monitoring of pediatric patients who have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease to reduce radiation exposure.
- Exercise interventions for cancer survivors could be a way to improve both cancer and cardiovascular disease outcomes, extending survival strategies beyond pharmacologic intervention.
Read the full analysis of the Global Cardio-Oncology Summit here.