Cardiotoxicity in Oncology: Prevention and Management Through Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

With advancements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, cancer-related mortality is declining, and life expectancy for cancer patients is increasing by up to 30%. However, these patients often face increased cardiovascular risks due to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes, as well as the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies. Chemotherapy drugs like anthracyclines, trastuzumab, and 5-fluorouracil can hurt the heart through oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This can cause heart failure, coronary heart disease, and arrhythmias, among other problems. Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) has emerged as a key strategy to mitigate these effects. Studies involving breast cancer patients and other cancer populations have demonstrated that CR programs, involving high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity exercises, improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce cardiovascular risks in cancer patients. Despite challenges such as patient reluctance due to distance from specialized centers, telerehabilitation has proven to be a viable alternative. CR not only improves peak VO2 but also reduces systemic inflammation and promotes muscle mass gain while lowering mortality and healthcare costs associated with post-cancer therapy complications. Multidisciplinary involvement-integrating cardiologists, oncologists, psychologists, and nutritionists-enhances outcomes, improving both cardiac fitness and quality of life for cancer patients. Further research highlights the need for early intervention and customized CR programs to minimize cardiovascular toxicity and optimize patient recovery post-chemotherapy.