scholarly journals Cardiovascular care of the oncology patient during COVID-19: An expert consensus document from the ACC Cardio-Oncology and Imaging Councils

Author(s):  
Lauren A Baldassarre ◽  
Eric H Yang ◽  
Richard K Cheng ◽  
Jeanne M DeCara ◽  
Susan Dent ◽  
...  

Abstract In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, The Cardio-Oncology and Imaging Councils of the American College of Cardiology offers recommendations to clinicians regarding the cardiovascular care of cardio-oncology patients in this expert consensus statement. Cardio-oncology patients–individuals with an active or prior cancer history, and with or at risk of cardiovascular disease–are a rapidly growing population, who are both at increased risk of infection by COVID-19 and experiencing severe and/or lethal complications. Recommendations for optimizing screening and monitoring visits to detect cardiac dysfunction are discussed. In addition, judicious use of multimodality imaging and biomarkers are proposed to identify myocardial, valvular, vascular, pericardial involvement in cancer patients. The difficulties of diagnosing the etiology of cardiovascular complications in patients with cancer and COVID-19 are outlined, along with weighing the advantages against risks of exposure, with the modification of existing cardiovascular treatments and cardiotoxicity surveillance in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Divyesh Kumar ◽  
Budhi Singh Yadav

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has caused massive mortality worldwide. Healthcare systems are presently being put in jeopardy as they are stretched to their maximum capacity. Oncology patients are at an increased risk, not only because of their compromised immunity, but also because of the possibility that their cancer will progress from early stage to advanced stage as a result of delays to their treatment. Advanced age and comorbidities further add to the risks associated with COVID-19, especially in patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Since prompt treatment is important for patients with cancer, strategies to curtail the infection rate without treatment interruptions are urgently needed. This article presents and explains the workflow pattern followed in an oncology ward, as well as the strategies and interventions adopted to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncology patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
I. Pabinger ◽  
C. Ay

SummaryVenous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, and its prevention is of major clinical importance. However, the VTE rates in the cancer population vary between 0.5% - 20%, depending on cancer-, treatment- and patient-related factors. The most important contributors to VTE risk are the tumor entity, stage and certain anticancer treatments. Cancer surgery represents a strong risk factor for VTE, and medical oncology patients are at increased risk of developing VTE, especially when receiving chemotherapy or immunomodulatory drugs. Also biomarkers have been investigated for their usefulness to predict risk of VTE (e.g. elevated leukocyte and platelet counts, soluble P-selectin, D-dimer, etc.). In order to identify cancer patients at high risk of VTE and to improve risk stratification, risk assessment models have been developed, which contain both clinical parameters and biomarkers. While primary thromboprophylaxis with lowmolecular- weight-heparin (LMWH) is recommended postoperatively for a period of up to 4 weeks after major cancer surgery, the evidence is less clear for medical oncology patients. Thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical oncology patients is advocated, and is based on results of randomized controlled trials which evaluated the efficacy and safety of LMWH for prevention of VTE in hospitalized medically ill patients. In recent trials the benefit of primary thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in the ambulatory setting has been investigated. However, at the present stage primary thromboprophylaxis for prevention of VTE in these patients is still a matter of debate and cannot be recommended for all cancer outpatients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Daniel S Menees ◽  
Eric R Bates ◽  
◽  

Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects millions of US citizens. As the population ages, an increasing number of people with CAD are undergoing non-cardiac surgery and face significant peri-operative cardiac morbidity and mortality. Risk-prediction models can be used to help identify those patients at increased risk of peri-operative cardiovascular complications. Risk-reduction strategies utilising pharmacotherapy with beta blockade and statins have shown the most promise. Importantly, the benefit of prophylactic coronary revascularisation has not been demonstrated. The weight of evidence suggests reserving either percutaneous or surgical revascularisation in the pre-operative setting for those patients who would otherwise meet independent revascularisation criteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-59
Author(s):  
Jūratė Gudaitytė ◽  
Justina Jermolajevaitė ◽  
Martynas Judickas

Background and objectives: Acromegaly is endocri­nal disorder which results in changes involving ge­neral appearance as well as upper airway abnorma­lities, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders which can aggravate the anesthesia and can lead to compli­cations. We aim to discuss the challenges for anesthe­siologist that occurs facing patient with acromegaly and are necessary to investigate before performing any kind of intervention. Case Presentation: 79 years old male patient presen­ted the hospital with recently diagnosed acromegaly for rectal prolapse surgery. From anamnesis he had NYHAIII with cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and arterial hypertension, also multiple old compressive fractures Th10 – L5. He was graded with Mallam­pati score IV and ASA class IV. The complemen­tary examinations were made to assess the possible complications. In induction of general anesthesia the intubation was performed using fibro- bronchoscope and anesthesia went without complications except hypotension which was managed. After surgery the patient was leaded to the postoperative room for furt­her monitoring. Discussion and Conclusion: Acromegalic patients have an increased risk of difficulty during anesthe­sia compared to general population due to difficult intubation, cardiovascular complications , OSA , alte­ration in intraoperative glucose intolerance and fluid regulation. Therefore profound investigation and as­sessment are necessary to predict and prepare for possible difficulties in the surgery room.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (43) ◽  
pp. 5556-5563
Author(s):  
Franz Sesti ◽  
Riccardo Pofi ◽  
Carlotta Pozza ◽  
Marianna Minnetti ◽  
Daniele Gianfrilli ◽  
...  

More than 70 years have passed since the first description of Klinefelter Syndrome (KS), the most frequent chromosome disorder causing male infertility and hypogonadism. KS is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) mortality due to several comorbidities, including hypogonadism, as well as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, which are highly prevalent in these patients. Aside from metabolic disturbances, patients with KS suffer from both acquired and congenital CV abnormalities, cerebrovascular thromboembolic disease, subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, which may all contribute to increased CV mortality. The mechanisms involved in this increased risk of CV morbidity and mortality are not entirely understood. More research is needed to better characterise the CV manifestations, elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms and define the contribution of testosterone replacement to restoring CV health in KS patients. This review explores the complex association between KS, metabolic syndrome and CV risk in order to plan future studies and improve strategies to reduce mortality in this high-risk population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodora A. Manolis ◽  
Antonis A. Manolis ◽  
Evdoxia J. Apostolopoulos ◽  
Helen Melita ◽  
Antonis S. Manolis

: Sleep is essential to and an integral part of life and when lacking or disrupted, a multitude of mental and physical pathologies ensue, including cardiovascular (CV) disease, which increases health care costs. Several prospective studies and meta-analyses show that insomnia, short (<7h) or long (>9h) sleep and other sleep disorders are associated with an increased risk of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, CV disease risk and/or mortality. The mechanisms by which insomnia and other sleep disorders lead to increased CV risk may encompass inflammatory, immunological, neuro-autonomic, endocrinological, genetic and microbiome perturbations. Guidelines are emerging that recommend a target of >7 h of sleep for all adults >18 years for optimal CV health. Treatment of sleep disorders includes cognitive-behavioral therapy considered the mainstay of non-pharmacologic management of chronic insomnia, and drug treatment with benzodiazepine receptor agonists binding to gamma aminobutyric acid type A (benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine agents) and some antidepressants. However, observational studies and meta-analyses indicate an increased mortality risk of anxiolytics and hypnotics, although bias may be involved due to confounding and high heterogeneity in these studies. Nevertheless, it seems that the risk incurred by the non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agents (Z drugs) may be relatively less than the risk of anxiolytics, with evidence indicating that at least one of these agents, zolpidem, may even confer a lower risk of mortality in adjusted models. All these issues are herein reviewed.


Author(s):  
Alvin J. X. Lee ◽  
Karin Purshouse

AbstractThe SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in 2020 has caused oncology teams around the world to adapt their practice in the aim of protecting patients. Early evidence from China indicated that patients with cancer, and particularly those who had recently received chemotherapy or surgery, were at increased risk of adverse outcomes following SARS-Cov-2 infection. Many registries of cancer patients infected with SARS-Cov-2 emerged during the first wave. We collate the evidence from these national and international studies and focus on the risk factors for patients with solid cancers and the contribution of systemic anti-cancer treatments (SACT—chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted and hormone therapy) to outcomes following SARS-Cov-2 infection. Patients with cancer infected with SARS-Cov-2 have a higher probability of death compared with patients without cancer. Common risk factors for mortality following COVID-19 include age, male sex, smoking history, number of comorbidities and poor performance status. Oncological features that may predict for worse outcomes include tumour stage, disease trajectory and lung cancer. Most studies did not identify an association between SACT and adverse outcomes. Recent data suggest that the timing of receipt of SACT may be associated with risk of mortality. Ongoing recruitment to these registries will enable us to provide evidence-based care.


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