Long-term Heart Function Study in Women Treated for Breast Cancer Using Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether women who survived breast cancer at least five years ago and received chemotherapy andor radiotherapy are at increased risk of long-term heart problems. This study compares cardiac function in these survivors to a similar group of women without cancer, aiming to find if monitoring heart health in breast cancer survivors is needed and to identify those at highest risk. It uses a longitudinal matched cohort design within primary care. The study involves two groups breast cancer survivors diagnosed at least five years ago who underwent chemotherapy andor radiotherapy, and an age- and general practitioner-matched group with no cancer history. The main assessment involves echocardiography, which measures heart dimensions, left and right ventricle function, valve status, heart rhythm, and other cardiac parameters. Participants will undergo echocardiography from October 2022 through December 2024 to assess left ventricular systolic dysfunction and other heart function markers. Researchers will track changes in heart function, cardiovascular diseases, and heart failure symptoms during the study. The study is observational and takes place in primary care, focusing on long-term outcomes in breast cancer survivors compared to matched controls.

Breast Cancer Long-term Outcomes on Cardiac Functioning: a Longitudinal Study