Traditional markers of cardiac toxicity fail to detect marked reductions in cardioresriratory fitness among cancer patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment

Abstract

AIMS: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is standard of care for evaluating chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity, although global longitudinal strain (GLS) offers advantages. However, neither change in LVEF or GLS has been associated with short-term symptoms, functional capacity, or long-term heart failure (HF) risk. We sought to determine whether an integrative measure of cardiovascular function (VO2peak) that is strongly associated with HF risk would be more sensitive to cardiac damage induced by cancer treatment than LVEF, GLS, or cardiac biomarkers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients (n = 206, 53 ± 13 years, 35% male) scheduled to commence anti-cancer treatment completed assessment p..