[Cardio-oncogeriatrics: ANMCO position paper on cardio-oncology management of elderly patients]

Abstract

Geriatric patients are an increasing population and cancer treatment in this population is a challenging and unsolved issue. Ageing is characterized by low-grade inflammation (inflamm-ageing), an important driver for age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. These chronic conditions share pathophysiological bases, risk factors and may coexist. The burden of comorbidities lowers the threshold for cardiotoxic effects of oncologic treatments. Geriatric assessment is helpful in identifying the peculiar vulnerabilities of this complex population, but a multidisciplinary approach (with oncologists and cardio-oncologists) is needed to improve the appropriateness of care. In this ANMCO position paper, we define the role of cardio-oncologists in the different scenarios of older cancer patients (active cancer, long-term survivors), the importance of geriatric assessment, the unmet needs of survivors and the complexity of comorbidity management.