Hormonal cancer treatments associated with a heightened risk of heart disease
Patients undergoing hormonal treatments for prostate or breast cancer may be at a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new recommendations from the American Heart Association. The full scientific statement was published April 26 in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
Hormonal therapies have proven to be quite successful for patients with hormone-dependent cancers such as prostate and breast cancers, allowing these individuals to live longer. Among these same patients, however, CVD has emerged as a common cause of illness and even death.
Reviewing data taken from multiple observational studies and randomized controlled trials, the statement’s authors noted that patients who already have at least two cardiovascular risk factors are impacted by this trend the most.
“For patients who have two or more cardiovascular risk factors, it is likely that referral to a cardiologist would be appropriate prior to beginning hormone treatment,” Tochi M. Okwuosa, DO, a professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and chair of the scientific statement writing group, said in a prepared statement. “For patients already receiving hormonal therapies, a discussion with the oncology team can help to determine if a cardiology referral is recommended.”
The group also emphasized how important it is for healthcare providers to work together when treating these patients. This includes closely monitoring patients with any hormone-dependent cancers who undergo hormonal therapies.
“A team-based approach to patient care that includes the oncology team, cardiologist, primary care clinician, dietician, endocrinologist and other health care professionals as appropriate is needed to work with each patient to manage and reduce the increased risk of heart disease and strokes associated with hormonal therapy in breast and prostate cancer treatment,” Okwuosa said.
The statement’s authors also called for more research to examine this relationship between hormone therapies and cardiovascular health. Going forward, they added, CVD and stroke should both be viewed as primary endpoints in any randomized trials exploring the safety or hormone treatments.
To read the full scientific statement in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, click here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.