Overview
The objective of this observational study is to assess the outcomes of a hospital-based Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORe) program focused on exercise in cancer patients undergoing cardiotoxic treatment. This evaluation will be conducted by analyzing disease-related health indicators, functional capacity, and quality of life. Patients at risk of cardiotoxicity attending the Cardio-Onco-Hematology Unit will be offered the exercise program, which includes two modalities: in-person (center-based) and remote (home-based) options. The assignment to either modality is non randomized, based on the functional assessment conducted in the Rehabilitation Unit and the agreement between healthcare professional and patient. All participants will perform a 3-month supervised exercise intervention. There are 3 time points for assessment: at baseline (T0), 3-month after the exercise program (T1) and follow-up at 9 months from baseline (T2).
Description
Advancements in pharmacological cancer treatment have significantly improved prognosis and increased survival rates. However, the chronicity of treatment-related side effects or associated comorbidities may be exacerbated. Various chemotherapy treatments are associated with the potential development of cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiotoxicity, which stands as a main cause of death among women with early-stage breast cancer. Additionally, other side effects, such as fatigue, loss of muscle mass, insomnia, lymphedema, and cognitive impairments, can markedly decline the quality of life of these patients.
The comprehensive care of oncology patients should extend beyond curative interventions like surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. It must encompass other aspects, such as psychological support, social support and therapeutic exercise programs to enhance the overall treatment experience and improve the quality of life. Exercise has proven to reduce mortality, morbidity, and the risk of recurrence, improving treatment tolerance and reducing interruptions, thereby promoting adherence. Supervised exercise programs are increasingly recognized as a low-cost and a side-effect-free "polypill". However, they have not yet been integrated into the standard care of patients with cancer.
The inherited experience from multimodal Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) programs with a comprehensive assessment and a multifaceted intervention with exercise programs as a central component; could be extended to cancer patients, resulting in a CORe program (ReCO in Spanish) by utilizing available CR programs in all healthcare areas.
The proposed CORe care process is grounded in the prior experience with the ONCORE trial (Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT03964142 ), which has helped in the implementation of new, structured, and controlled healthcare service, ensuring higher quality, safety, and efficiency in healthcare.
The implementation of the CORe program will take place at the University Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), under the coordination of the Cardiology, Oncology, and Rehabilitation services. The management of participants data and the establishment of indicators should facilitate the monitoring of the process and the evaluation of the results of clinical interventions.
The goal of this project is to assess the outcomes of a CORe care process through the analysis of health-related indicators, functional capacity, and the quality of life of breast cancer participants attending the Cardio-Oncology Unit.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- High risk of cancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity
- Possibility of completing a cardio-onco rehabilitation program (centre-based or home-based) and programmed visits.
- Providing written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with physical or mental limitation to carry out an exercise program.