Unveiling Hidden Battles: Exploring the Link Between Breast Cancer Survival and Heart Failure Vulnerability

Abstract

This study explores the link between a history of breast cancer and the vulnerability to heart failure. Analyzing data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2016 and 2019 in the US, our research utilized logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors, and employed propensity score matching. With 2,276,639 weighted cases, our findings reveal a slight but significant elevation in heart failure risk among the breast cancer cohort, specifically in acute, chronic, and isolated systolic heart failure types. Racial differences were pronounced; Black women with breast cancer showed higher risks for all heart failure types, particularly chronic and systolic, while Asian or Pacific Islander patients had a lower incidence of certain heart failure types. This research underscores a modest increase in heart failure risk post-breast cancer, highlighting the critical need for integrated cardio-oncology care and personalized healthcare approaches to address and mitigate this risk effectively.