The Cardio-Oncology Guideline - A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Cardiovascular Risks in Cancer Patients

Abstract

The emerging field of cardio-oncology addresses the critical need for specialized cardiovascular care in cancer patients, given the overlapping risk factors and potential cardiovascular complications of oncological therapies. In collaboration with the European Hematology Association (EHA), the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the first cardio-oncology guideline was developed and published in 2022. This guideline comprises 272 recommendations covering risk stratification before therapy initiation, monitoring during oncological treatment, and the diagnosis and treatment of therapy-associated cardiovascular side effects.A significant innovation in this guideline is the comprehensive risk stratification approach, which categorizes patients into low, moderate, and high-risk groups based on therapy-specific factors. This allows for tailored cardiovascular care during therapy, with varying frequencies of follow-up examinations depending on the patient's risk level. Notably, the guideline emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists to optimize patient outcomes.Overall, the cardio-oncology guideline represents a significant advancement in addressing the complex cardiovascular needs of cancer patients. Its comprehensive recommendations and emphasis on interdisciplinary care underscore the importance of optimizing cardiovascular health throughout the oncological treatment journey.This review provides an overview of the guidelines and updates on the risk stratification and therapy of patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis (ICIM), as well as the role of statins in protecting against anthracycline-associated cardiotoxicity.