January 1, 2017Open Access
Cardiac rehabilitation for women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure compared with coronary artery disease: A retrospective study
Key Result
A 26-week cardiac rehabilitation program significantly increased peak aerobic power by 2.3 ml/kg/min in women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure, a gain similar to that seen in age-matched women with coronary artery disease.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=58)
Multicenter
No
Structured PICO
Does cardiac rehabilitation improve VO2peak and body composition in women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure compared to women with coronary artery disease?
P
Population
58 women (29 with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure, 29 age-matched with coronary artery disease) participating in a 26-week cardiac rehabilitation program.
I
Intervention
Cardiac rehabilitation
C
Comparator
Age-matched women with coronary artery disease undergoing cardiac rehabilitation
O
Outcome
Cardiopulmonary exercise test results (VO2peak), body composition measures, and cardiac rehabilitation completion rates at 6 monthssurrogate
Women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure achieve similar significant gains in peak aerobic power and completion rates during cardiac rehabilitation as age-matched women with coronary artery disease.
Main Result
Mean Difference: 0.4
Absolute Event Rate: 2.3% vs 1.9%
p-value: p=0.81
Limitations
- Retrospective study design limited details on cancer treatments and disease stage
- Lack of information regarding compliance with prescribed community exercise sessions
- Small sample size limited statistical power for secondary outcomes
- Lack of a usual care control group without exercise rehabilitation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine clinical outcomes and completion rates of cardiac rehabilitation in women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure. METHODS: Data for women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure were compared with those for age-matched women with coronary artery disease. Retrospective data were obtained from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute database for dates between 1998 and 2011, for cardiopulmonary exercise test results at baseline and 6 months, body composition measures, and cardiac rehabilitation completion rates. RESULTS: A total of 29 women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure (mean 57 years (standard deviation (SD) 9.4)) and 29 age-matched women with coronary artery disease were identified. There was no significant difference between the proportion of women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure and those with coronary artery disease who completed the programme. Peak aerobic power (VO2peak) increased in the breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure group (mean 16.2 ml-1.kg-1.min-1 (SD 3.4) to mean 18.5 ml-1.kg-1.min-1 (SD 4.5) ; p = 0.002) and in the coronary artery disease group (mean 18.9 ml-1.kg-1.min-1 (SD 4.5) to mean 20.8 ml-1.kg-1.min-1 (SD 4.9); p = 0.01). Body fat percentage increased in the breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure group (mean 34.8% (SD 8.5) to mean 36.3% (SD 6.9); p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure participating in cardiac rehabilitation demonstrate similar significant gains in VO2peak and similar completion rates to those of age-matched women with coronary artery disease. Further research is needed to determine interventions that improve body composition in women with breast cancer and treatment-related heart failure.