Cardiotoxicity in elderly breast cancer patients
- 50%-60% of the newly diagnosed breast cancer patients are older than 65 years of age.
- This elderly group of patients is particularly susceptible to cardiotoxicity induced by cancer treatment, due to age-related risk factors, pre-existing heart disease and multiple co-morbidities.
- Multimorbidity can promote declines in intrinsic capacity (mental and physical health) and further exacerbate cardiac toxicity from cancer therapy in elderly breast cancer patients.
- Elderly cancer patients are systematically underrepresented in clinical trials and evidence-based best practices for the management of these patients, are lacking.
- Lack of best practices and frailty bias may lead to inappropriate interventions and undertreatment, resulting in poorer outcomes, deterioration of QoL and increased healthcare costs.
![snowball-effect](https://cardiocare-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/snowball-effect.jpg)
The “snowball effect” exacerbating cardiotoxicity in the elderly breast cancer patient (adapted by Oncologist. 2011;16(8):1138-43)
Cardiotoxicity disease continuum & Study concept
![cardiocare-concept](https://cardiocare-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cardiocare-concept.jpg)
Project Vision
- Improve early detection and management of cardiotoxicity in the elderly breast cancer patient.
- Provide innovative patient-oriented tools and mHealth based supportive interventions to better monitor and improve intrinsic (mental and physical) capacity and QoL in these patients.
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Provide effective risk stratification and best practices for cost-effective healthcare pathways based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).