ASPO Abstracts
Factors Associated with Cardiovascular Disease among Breast Cancer Survivors
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Background. Among breast cancer survivors age > 50 years, deaths due to cardiovascular disease account for
35% of non-cancer related deaths. The increases in cardiovascular disease among breast cancer survivors is due
to the cardiotoxic effects of breast cancer treatment and to overlapping risk factors for breast cancer and
cardiovascular disease.
Methods. We conducted a study of a sample of 164 breast cancer patients in order to examine the frequency of
cardiovascular disease. The overall objective was to examine the frequency of high blood pressure, myocardial
infarction, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, stroke, and venous thrombosis/thromboembolism among
women who have been diagnosed with stage I-IV breast cancer and who had completed primary therapy for the
disease. Data were collected by postal survey and via abstraction of electronic medical records.
Results. A high percentage of the women (62.8%) had a reported history of high blood pressure. Fifty percent of
the women had a reported history of high cholesterol. About 8.3% of the women were current smokers and 36.0%
were former smokers. About 23.8% of the women had a reported history of diabetes. About 4.9% of the women
had a reported history of congestive heart failure and 6.1% had a history of stroke
Discussion. Additional studies are needed of cardiovascular risk factors and adverse cardiovascular events
among breast cancer survivors. Of particular concern is whether patients with hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes are receiving appropriate therapy to reduce their cardiovascular risk and
prevent morbidity and mortality from adverse cardiovascular events.
Keywords: breast cancer survivors; cardiomyopathy; congestive heart failure; hypertension; stroke