Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction trajectory in Breast Cancer Patients

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a significant adverse effect of cancer treatments, particularly in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation. This study describes the trajectory of CTRCD in this population. A retrospective study was conducted on 77 breast cancer patients who completed chemotherapy. Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were extracted from medical records. The severity of cardiotoxicity was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Treatment patterns and recovery rates were assessed. Among the 77 patients (mean age 49.1 years), 94.9% received chemotherapy, with 57.7% receiving both anti-HER2 and anthracyclines, 29.5% anthracyclines alone, and 7.7% anti-HER2 alone. Hypertension (19.2%) was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, followed by diabetes (14.1%). Risk stratification (HFA-ICOS) classified 79.5% as low risk, 11.5% as moderate, and 5.1% as high/very high risk. CTRCD occurred in 42.3% of patients, predominantly during chemotherapy (87.9%), with a mean onset of 9.6 months post-treatment. Cardiotoxicity was mild in 75.8%, moderate in 9.1%, and severe in 9.1% of cases, with symptoms in 21.2%. Baseline LVEF declined from 65.7% to 53.1%, and GLS from −21.48 to −16.31 post-toxicity. Regarding management, 60.6% of affected patients received treatment, leading to complete recovery in 51.5% and partial recovery in 9.1%, with a mean recovery time of 6.2 months. CTRCD is common in breast cancer patients, mostly occurring during chemotherapy. Despite declines in LVEF and GLS, treatment led to significant recovery. These findings emphasize the importance of early detection, regular monitoring, and timely intervention to mitigate cardiotoxicity risks.