Peripheral blood flow in the carotid artery at rest to investigate cardiovascular health in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study.

Abstract

Abstract

Aim: Cardiotoxicity, damage to the heart as a result of cancer treatment, poses health risks for breast cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to investigate heart health in breast cancer survivors by assessing markers of heart health by using ultrasound on the common carotid artery in breast cancer survivors. The thesis is comparing differences in carotid artery blood flow parameters between breast cancer survivors and controls.

Methods: Differences in common carotid artery blood flow were investigated at rest between (n = 10) young healthy females (18-30 years), (n = 10) older healthy females (50 years and above) and (n = 10) breast cancer survivors ( >18 years old) who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal treatment. Participants were recruited via criterion-based purposive sampling. Height (cm), weight (kg), were collected and used to calculate BMI (kg/cm2). Heart rate (bpm) and blood pressure (bp) were also collected. Intima media wall thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA), diameter of the CCA in transverse and longitudinal view, peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were also taken via ultrasound using standard procedures.

Results: Data suggests that breast cancer survivors (73.61 cm/s) have lower PSV when compared to young healthy females (95.7 cm/s), (P = 0.006). Breast cancer survivors (0.05 cm) have a higher IMT when compared to young healthy females (0.03 cm), (P = 0.001). Older healthy females (0.05 cm) also had a higher IMT compared to young healthy females (P = 0.001), but no differences were observed between older healthy females and breast cancer survivors (P = 0.644). No statistical significance in diameter of the CCA longitudinal and transverse were observed between groups.

Conclusion: Analysis suggests a reduction in PSV in breast cancer survivors compared to young healthy females. The increased IMT may be due to cancer treatment in breast cancer survivors. However, whether these differences are due to age or cancer is unclear at this time – more studies investigating this is needed for additional insight.