Cardio-oncology & otherCross-sectional study
Mechanisms Underlying Reduced Peak Oxygen Uptake in Older Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors
- Cross-sectional comparison of older long-term breast cancer survivors and controls
- maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- real-time cardiac and oximetry-based magnetic resonance imaging
Authors' conclusion
Compared to CON, older, long-term BCS display lower VO2peak, and blunted SV during exertion. The prognostic links between VO2peak and future cardiovascular disease suggests decreased VO2peak may be an underappreciated risk factor in older long-term BCS.
Study context
- Population
- Older (≥60 years) long-term female breast cancer survivors previously treated with cardiotoxic therapy, and controlsBreast cancer survivors (BCS) 53 · controls (CON) 20
- Participants
- 53 vs 20
- Exposure
- Older long-term BCS vs controls
- BCSn = 53
- CONn = 20
Main finding
VO2peak
Difference
−2.6 mL/kg/min
P = 0.019
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiac output augmentation during submaximal stepping exercise · less in BCS; nonsignificant | difference Δ0.6 L/min | P = 0.095 |
| SV augmentation during submaximal stepping exercise · less in BCS | difference Δ5 mLs | P = 0.010 |
| Ejection fraction augmentation during submaximal stepping exercise — BCS vs CON · left-ventricle; less in BCS | difference Δ3% | P = 0.062 |
| Ejection fraction augmentation during submaximal stepping exercise — BCS vs CON · right-ventricle; less in BCS | difference Δ4% | P = 0.025 |
Heart rate and C(a-v)O2diff during submaximal stepping
- No group differences
Peak calf muscle VO2, blood flow, and C(a-v)O2diff
- Similar between groups
Original publication
Mechanisms Underlying Reduced Peak Oxygen Uptake in Older Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors. JACC Adv. Published 18 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102610
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it