The prevalence of cardiac risk factors in men with localized prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy in British Columbia, Canada. By Davis et al. 2014
Key sentence from the paper: “Patients receiving ADT have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors and are more likely to be hypertensive than population controls.”
For the full abstract, see: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jo/aa/820403/
Commentary: This paper justifies the need for a new field of medical practice that ties together cardiology and oncology—what the authors refer to as “cardiooncology.” The paper points out that “men with prostate cancer are twice as likely to die of cardiovascular disease as they are to die of prostate cancer.” For whatever reason, compared to patients not on ADT, those starting on ADT are significantly more likely to have high blood pressure.
The authors point out that few patients starting on ADT have a complete cardiac workup at that time and are not regularly monitored for abnormalities in their blood lipids, which might be predictive of cardiovascular events. In sum, if you are starting on ADT you should be concerned about your heart health, as much as your PSA results.
Practically speaking, there may be some disconnect in which member of the health care team takes responsibility for monitoring cardiac health. The oncologist may assume the family physician is monitoring heart health as a routine part of care. The family physician may assume the oncologist is monitoring heart health as it is influenced by ADT. As a patient, you may want to discuss this topic with all members of your health care team.
Davis MK, Rajala JL, Tyldesley S, Pickles T, Virani SA. 2014. The prevalence of cardiac risk factors in men with localized prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Oncology Article ID 820403.