Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.
In this episode, Warrick Bishop discusses the use of statin therapy in relation to chemotherapy, specifically its potential to reduce heart failure progression in patients receiving anthracycline treatments for lymphoma. He highlights the STOP CA trial, which aimed to assess the effectiveness of atorvastatin in preventing cardiac dysfunction associated with these cardiotoxic medications. The study involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled design and included patients aged 18 and older who were scheduled for anthracycline therapy. Exclusion criteria ensured a clear focus on participants without prior statin therapy or certain health conditions.
The trial's primary endpoint was the reduction in heart pumping capacity, measured by left ventricular ejection fraction. Results showed that only 9% of the atorvastatin group experienced significant heart function reduction compared to 22% in the placebo group, indicating that statins may offer protective benefits. Bishop emphasizes the importance of discussing statin use with healthcare providers for those undergoing chemotherapy. He concludes by encouraging listeners to consider this information for their health journeys and to engage in conversations with their specialists regarding statin therapy during cancer treatment.
Takeaways:
- Warrick Bishop discusses the potential benefits of statin therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy, specifically related to heart failure prevention.
- The focus is on a clinical trial called STOP CA, which investigates the use of atorvastatin to mitigate cardiotoxicity from anthracycline chemotherapy in lymphoma patients.
- Anthracyclines, while effective against certain cancers, significantly increase the risk of heart failure, with a 10 to 15-fold increase in risk.
- Previous observational data suggested that statins might protect the heart during anthracycline therapy, prompting further investigation.
- The STOP CA trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at clarifying the role of statins in this context.
- Inclusion criteria for the trial required participants to have Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and to be scheduled for anthracycline therapy.
- The primary endpoint of the study was the reduction in heart function by 10% or more, with secondary outcomes focusing on left ventricular ejection fraction.
- Results showed that 9% of participants in the atorvastatin group experienced a significant reduction in heart function compared to 22% in the placebo group.
- This indicates that statin therapy may significantly lower the risk of cardiac dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy.
- Bishop encourages patients undergoing chemotherapy to discuss statin therapy with their healthcare providers, especially if they are already on statins or have concerns about heart health.
Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.
Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.
Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.
The devastating fact in all of this is…
Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.
This podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their health literacy and gain information to help them make the best decisions about their risk of heart attack, their cholesterol, blood pressure, risk of diabetes, weight loss and general health. Join me on my personal mission journey to prevent Heart Attack on a global scale. If you like this podcast, I would be honoured by a 5-star review and appreciate if you let your friends and family know about this podcast; you may even save the life of someone you love!
Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?
Heart disease is the #1 killer in the Western World. In Australia, someone dies every 28 minutes from heart disease. That’s 51 people a day. In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 SECONDS! Fortunately, many heart attacks are preventable. However, regular exercise and eating healthy are no guarantee you won’t succumb to this silent killer.
- 94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
- 59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
- Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.
Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au
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The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:
- understand the present state of their heart’s health
- recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
- Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation
Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON
