Key result
Anthracycline treatment in childhood cancer survivors was associated with preserved LVEF (>60%), mean maximum aerobic power of 70 W, and low physical and psychosocial quality of life scores.
Why the study?
Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity frequently complicates treatment at any stage, even in survivors, prompting assessment of maximum aerobic power, quality of life, and left ventricular ejection fraction in childhood cancer survivors.
Cross-Sectional (n=12)
In childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines, physical condition and quality of life may be impaired independently of detectable cardiotoxicity (LVEF).
Preserved LVEF does not ensure normal aerobic capacity or QoL in anthracycline survivors; leaves open whether fitness assessment adds independent prognostic value.
BACKGROUND: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a frequent complication that can occur at any stage of treatment, even in survivors. OBJECTIVE: To determine maximum aerobic power, quality of life, and left ventricular ejection fraction in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. METHODS: The left ventricular ejection fraction was obtained from the transthoracic echocardiogram report in the medical records. Each patient underwent a 6-minute walk test, assessment of maximum aerobic power on a cycle ergometer, and evaluation of perceived exertion using the EPInfant scale, and finally, their quality of life was evaluated using the pediatric quality of life inventory model. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were studied, with an average of 16.2 years of age. All patients exhibited a left ventricular ejection fraction >60%, the mean distance covered in the 6-minute walk test was 516.7 m, and the mean of the maximum aerobic power was 70 W. Low quality of life scores were obtained in the physical and psychosocial aspects. In the Pearson test, a weak correlation without statistical significance was found between all the variables studied. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously with the detection of cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer survivors, it is pertinent to perform physical evaluations as physical condition and cardiotoxicity seem to be issues that are not necessarily dependent.
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Tagle et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines (n=12). Anthracycline treatment was evaluated on Maximum aerobic power, quality of life, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Anthracycline treatment in childhood cancer survivors was associated with preserved LVEF (>60%), mean maximum aerobic power of 70 W, and low physical and psychosocial quality of life scores.
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