Exercise training improves heart rate recovery in women with breast cancer.

Francesco Giallauria,Maria Mancini,Angelo Russo,Maria Santucci De Magistris,Salvatore Panico,Alessandra Vitelli,Luigi Maresca,Alessandra Grieco,Rosa Lucci,Marco Gentile,Giorgio Torella,Amalia Mattiello,Paolo Chiodini,Franco Berrino,Carlo Vigorito

doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1179-0

Francesco Giallauria, Maria Mancini + Show 13 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1179-0

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Abstract

PurposeTo determine whether exercise training improves autonomic function in women with breast cancer (BC).MethodsFifty-one patients (aged between 39 and 72 years) with a history of primary invasive BC within the previous 5 years and enrolled in the Mediterranean diet-based DIANA (Diet and Androgens)-5 Trial were subdivided in two groups: a ET group (n = 25) followed a formal ET program of moderate intensity (3 session/week on a bicycle at 60–70% VO2peak for 3 months, followed by one session/week until 1-year follow-up), while a control group (n = 26) did not perform any formal ET. At baseline and after 1-year, all patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET). Heart rate recovery (HRR) was calculated as the difference between heart rate at peak exercise and heart rate at first minute of the cool-down period.ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups in baseline anthropometrical, BC characteristics, metabolic profile, CPET parameters and HRR. Compared to controls, at 1-year follow-up ET group showed a significant improvement in VO2peak (from 12.6 ± 3.0 to 14.5 ± 3.3 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001; p < 0.001 between groups); and in HRR (from 17.6 ± 6.4 to 23.0 ± 8.3 beats/min, p < 0.001; p < 0.001 between groups). In ET group the changes in HRR directly correlated with changes in VO2peak (r = 0.58, p = 0.002).ConclusionsModerate intensity exercise training in BC survivors is associated with improvement of autonomic function. Whether the improvement of sympatho-vagal balance may favorably modulate some of the pathophysiological mechanisms implied in cancer evolution need further investigation.

Highlights

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and cause of death in women worldwide
There were no significant differences between groups in baseline anthropometrical, breast cancer (BC) characteristics, metabolic profile, cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET) parameters and Heart rate recovery (HRR)
In ET group the changes in HRR directly correlated with changes in VO2peak (r = 0.58, p = 0.002)

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and cause of death in women worldwide. Diet and physical activity play a pivotal role on occurrence of BC (http://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=diet+and+breast+c ancer+and+meta-analysis; Ferrari et al 2013; Buckland et al 2013). Diet and physical activity play a pivotal role on occurrence of BC Previous studies showed that autonomic nervous system imbalance is associated with mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Freeman et al 2006). The heart rate response to, and recovery from, a bout of exercise is mediated by the dynamic interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system (Freeman et al 2006). Greater sympathetic tone predominates as heart rate increases during exercise, and vagal reactivation mediates the rate at which heart rate recovers after exercise (Freeman et al 2006). The rate at which heart rate recovers from exercise (heart rate recovery, HRR) is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (Cole et al 1999, 2000; Nishime et al 2000)

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