Effects of an Easily Implemented Physical Exercise Program on the Ventricular Ejection Fraction of Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women, with an incidence of 85-94 per 100,000 people annually in Europe. Despite the increasing incidence of BC, advancements in early detection and novel therapeutic approaches have improved survival rates. However, adjuvant treatments are associated with side effects, including a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which can result in severe cardiac damage and progress to heart failure. Methods: Thirty-eight women undergoing BC treatment were included in the study. Eighteen women (47.2 ± 5.4 years old) participated in a supervised physical exercise (PE) program for 60 min/day, twice weekly, at moderate to high intensity (5 min joint mobilization, 20 min predominantly aerobic training, 30 min of strength training, and 5 min cooldown). The remaining 20 women (51.5 ± 9.5 years) were advised to remain active during treatments, but without specific supervision. In the PE group, a slight reduction in the LVEF was observed after chemotherapy (63.73 ± 3.34% vs. 61.00 ± 6.54%, p = 0.131). In contrast, the control group showed a statistically significant reduction in the LVEF (64.93 ± 4.00% vs. 60.57 ± 4.86%, p = 0.008). Although the results suggest a potential protective effect of regular physical exercise during BC treatment, the study was inconclusive regarding its role in preventing cardiac dysfunction. Further research with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is warranted.