Breast cancer treatment may increase non-cancer related mortality risk due to unintended cardiovascular consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the strongest correlate of cardiovascular health (CVH) in female breast cancer survivors, cardiorespiratory fitness or fatness. Fifty-one women (59 ± 9 years, BMI 26.4 ± 4.8 kg/m2) previously diagnosed and treated for primary breast cancer were assessed using pulse wave analysis to determine central arterial wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx) and central systolic blood pressure (cSBP). A composite Z score calculated which incorporated central double product and AIx, as an indicator of CVH. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to obtain total body fat percentage (BF%). Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined using the single-stage walk test to predict maximal oxygen uptake ( $$V{\text{O}}_{2\hbox{max} }$$ ). Linear regression analysis revealed that fitness was associated with AIx after adjusting for BF %, age and time post-treatment completion (β = − 0.271, p = 0.010). A significant association between BF% and AIx after adjusting for fitness and age was found (β = 0.166, p = 0.0005); however, this association was lost when time post-treatment was included in the model (β = 0.166, p = 0.167). Both fitness (β = − 0.347, p = 0.0005) and BF% (β = 0.333, p = 0.013) were independently associated with CVH in the fully adjusted model. This study provides evidence for an association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular health in female breast cancer survivors. While fatness may be associated with cardiovascular health, it appears to be more strongly associated with age.

Purpose: To compare exercise capacity and cardiovascular response to exercise in elderly individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) who attend ongoing community-based maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (CR) versus age- and gender-matched healthy "very active" (HVA; >= 2000 kcal/week) and healthy "less active" (HLA; <2000 kcal/week) individuals. Method: Sixty-three participants (age: 72.3 +/- 5.1 years; 62% men; n = 21 per group) completed the following assessments: (1) symptom-limited graded exercise test with expired gas analysis and bioimpedance assessment of cardiovascular function during exercise; (2) walking tests; (3) physical function; (4) anthropometry and (5) 12-month physical activity recall. Results: The CR group achieved 98% (range: 73-154%) of age- and gender-predicted peak oxygen consumption for healthy individuals. Peak oxygen consumption was lower in CR compared to HVA but not HLA group (VO2peak: CR: 19.0 +/- 4.5, HVA: 23.7 +/- 2.9, HLA: 20.7 +/- 4.7 ml center dot kg(-1)cmin(-1), p = 0.001 versus HVA; p = 0.390 versus HLA). Peak heart rate was lower in CR compared to both HVA and HLA. Walking test results and cardiovascular and physical function were not different between the groups. Conclusions: Elderly individuals with CAD participating in maintenance CR have similar exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exercise compared to their age- and gender-matched less active healthy peers. The findings support referral of elderly patients to community-based CR.Implications for RehabilitationFitness benefits of long-term maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs remain unknown.Elderly individuals with coronary artery disease participating in maintenance CR have exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exercise similar to their less active healthy peers.Maintenance CR may play an important role prolonging independent living in elderly individuals.

With better detection and treatment, breast cancer is less likely to be the primary cause of death in the majority of breast cancer survivors; mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now more common. Given the long latency periods between cancer treatment completion and potential symptomatic CVD, there is a need to detect vascular changes before symptoms appear. This short review provides an overview of non-invasive, widely available, and relatively inexpensive techniques for assessing endothelial function, central and regional arterial stiffness, central blood pressures, and intima-media thickness. These tools exhibit acceptable reliability and validity, and are relatively practical. Clinical assessment recommendations are also provided. There is sufficient evidence to encourage the use of these techniques as a component of routine serial assessments, and to help guide appropriate treatment strategies.

Background: Despite significant benefits, cardiac rehabilitation remains an underutilised intervention and long-term effects of such programs remain unknown. This study compared exercise capacity and cardiovascular function in elderly individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) attending ongoing community-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) versus age- and gender-matched healthy active (HA) and sedentary (HS) individuals.