Skip to main content

Statement Outlines Inequities in Cardio-Oncology Care, Research

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, July 6, 2023 -- Inequities in cardio-oncology care and research are addressed in a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and published online June 28 in Circulation.

Daniel Addison, M.D., from Ohio State University, and colleagues defined the current state of evidence relating to disparities in cardio-oncology and proposed an integrated approach to mitigate disparities in the routine clinical setting.

The authors note that women seem to have higher rates of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicities, with some unique cardiotoxic mechanisms identified in women. The risk for cardiotoxicity and cardiovascular death with anticancer (targeted, immune, hormone) therapies is increased up to threefold for Black patients. Increased cardiotoxic risk is also seen in other racial and ethnic minority groups. Among Black patients, hypertension and other cardiovascular disease risk factors are disproportionately increased with chemotherapy. Because many trials do not represent diverse populations well, caution should be exercised in interpretation of clinical trial data for cardiotoxic risk assessment. In cancer survivors, social determinants of health influence long-term cardiovascular risk and survival. Future directions for addressing cardio-oncology disparities include further investigation of sex-specific differences in cardiac toxicities, mechanisms underlying disparate cardiotoxic risk, strategies for improving representation in cancer clinical trials, and implementation of personalized cardioprotection strategies.

"Conscientiously leveraging technology and designing trials with outcomes related to these issues in practice (considering feasibility and cost) will critically accelerate the field of cardio-oncology in the 21st century. With tangible goals, we can improve health inequities in cardio-oncology," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

ASCO: Germline Variation Does Not Predict Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

FRIDAY, June 7, 2024 -- Germline variation does not predict the risk of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) in Black women receiving paclitaxel (once weekly) or docetaxel...

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Diseases Set to Increase

THURSDAY, June 6, 2024 -- The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases will increase through 2050, and the associated economic burden is also projected to increase...

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Linked to Lower Risk for Mortality

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 -- Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality, which is partly explained by multiple cardiometabolic...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.