Please read Dr. Qin’s article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: CardioOncology titled, “Neighborhood Archetypes and Cardiovascular Health in Black Breast Cancer Survivors.“
The increasing number of breast cancer (BC) survivors in the United States underscores the importance of understanding the multilevel and complex factors affecting survivorship, which has become a public health priority. BC and cardiovascular disease are major contributors to morbidity and mortality among women, particularly affecting Black women, who face a 40% higher BC mortality and a 32% higher cardiovascular disease mortality than White women. BC survivors also face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and related mortality compared to women without a history of BC, primarily because of the cardiotoxic effects of several cancer treatments and shared risk factors between BC and cardiovascular disease such as obesity, diet, and smoking. These factors can further exacerbate the adverse effects of cardiotoxic treatments. Therefore, the emerging field of cardio-oncology has seen increased clinical attention directed toward cardiovascular health (CVH) after a BC diagnosis, recognizing the essential role of optimal CVH in reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and improving BC survivorship. To read the full article.