Hypertensive Oncologic Patients

Approximately one out of four adults in the world is affected by arterial hypertension, the most common risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular diseases, which are the main contributors to mortality and morbidity worldwide (Williams et al. 2018). Prevalence of hypertension in cancer patients is similar to that of general population; hence, it is the most common comorbidity in this condition (Piccirillo et al. 2004; Unger et al. 2019). The importance of hypertension in the oncologic patient is related to the increased susceptibility it confers toward cardiotoxicity due to anticancer treatments (Tini et al. 2019). More in general, major CV risk factors predispose to cardiotoxicity (Pinder et al. 2007; Cameron et al. 2016; Tini et al. 2019) and a worse CV risk profile has been associated with cardiac events and adverse outcomes during and after oncologic treatments (Armenian et al. 2016; Hershman et al. 2018). It thus appears clear that a hypertensive oncologic patient carries a higher risk of CV events in the short and long terms and requires a particularly tailored management. Over the last years, thanks to growing advances in the field of cancer therapies, a considerable decrease in cancer mortality has been observed. Unfortunately, such therapies have shown a wide spectrum of cardiotoxicities. This book provides the readers with the latest advances and insights in the ever-expanding field of Cardio-Oncology. Specific topics discussed in the book include the potential role of inflammation in Cardio-Oncology and the description of the different manifestations of cardiotoxicities (including vascular toxicity, systemic hypertension, arrhythmias), analyzing the complex relationships between cancer and heart failure, two conditions whose prevalence increases with ageing. Furthermore, the role of biomarkers and imaging in cardio-oncology is discussed.