Key result
A minimalist cardio-oncology service in Wales successfully managed 20-30 referrals per year, primarily using dobutamine stress echocardiography to prevent unnecessary interruption of chemotherapy.
Why the study?
Cardio-oncology is widely advocated, but evidence of a clinical benefit from formally integrating the two specialties has not emerged.
A minimalist cardio-oncology service can be established without dedicated funding by leveraging existing imaging modalities like dobutamine stress echocardiography and community heart failure resources to prevent unnecessary cessation of cancer therapies.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support chemotherapy continuation via existing resources; leaves open prospective validation of minimalist cardio-oncology models.
Cardio-oncology is intensely ‘hyped’ in cardiology circles, and there are good reasons for advocating a formal integration of the 2 specialties, but so far evidence of a benefit from the collaboration has not emerged. We provide a simplified blueprint for a ‘minimalistic’ service, based on our own practice and experience in Wales, UK.
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Riaz et al. (2024) conducted a review in Cardio-oncology. Minimalist cardio-oncology service was evaluated. A minimalist cardio-oncology service in Wales successfully managed 20-30 referrals per year, primarily using dobutamine stress echocardiography to prevent unnecessary interruption of chemotherapy.
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