Surveillance of left ventricular function among cancer survivors
Authors' conclusion
Compared with people without cancer, cancer survivors have a higher risk of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. However, dysfunction is less common with increasing time since cancer diagnosis.
Study context
- Population
- Cancer survivors and matched non-cancer controls assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)1,051 survivors, 1538 controls had CMR
- Exposure
- Cancer survivors vs matched non-cancer controls
- Cancer survivorsn = 23,854
- Outcome
- Cardiac function, primarily LVEF, by CMR
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched
- Propensity-score matched
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Low LVEF (≤55%), adjusted for age, sex, years since diagnosis and BP medication
Cancer survivors vs ControlsPrevalence ratio (95% CI)P value
Low LVEF (≤55%), adjusted for age, sex, years since diagnosis and BP medication
1.19(1.05–1.35)
P = 0.006Breast cancer
1.39(1.18–1.64)
P < 0.001Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Cancer survivors | Controls | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| LVEF, breast or haematological malignancies | 59.5 ± 6.4 | 60.1 ± 6.4 | P < 0.001 |
| Global circumferential strain, breast or haematological malignancies | −22.4 ± 3.5 | −22.6 ± 3.5 | P < 0.001 |
Impairment by time since cancer diagnosis
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less likely impaired with increasing time from diagnosis
- P = 0.014
- Global circumferential strain less likely impaired with increasing time from diagnosis
- P = 0.045
Original publication
Surveillance of left ventricular function among cancer survivors. Heart. Published 5 August 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it