Exercise and Cardio-Oncology Rehab

Purpose of Review To evaluate the evidence supporting the use of exercise training as a treatment strategy to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer populations and to provide an overview of the use of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in cancer patients and survivors. Recent Findings A recent scoping review suggests that CR-style interventions are feasible in cancer patients, but more evidence is needed to establish the benefits of this approach. Summary Cancer survivors are at increased risk of CVD as a result of side effects of cancer treatment, shared risk factors for cancer and CVD, and effects from the cancer itself. Aerobic exercise training improves peak VO2, but few models exist to support widespread incorporation of exercise training into cancer care. CR could provide infrastructure to support the incorporation of exercise in cancer populations, but data are limited regarding the feasibility or benefits of CR in cancer patients.

Automated summary

This review evaluates the evidence supporting the use of exercise training as a treatment strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in cancer populations, and provides an overview of the use of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in cancer patients and survivors. Recent findings suggest that CR-style interventions are feasible in cancer patients, but more evidence is needed to establish the benefits of this approach. Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of CVD due to cancer treatment side effects, shared risk factors, and the effects of cancer itself. Although aerobic exercise training improves peak VO2, there are limited models to incorporate exercise training into cancer care. CR could potentially support the inclusion of exercise in cancer populations, but there is limited data on the feasibility or benefits of CR in cancer patients.