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A new study highlights a concerning connection between weight gain after a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and an increased risk of heart failure. Published online in JAMA Oncology on January 9, 2025, the research suggests that women who gain weight following a breast cancer diagnosis are at greater risk of developing heart failure, underscoring the importance of weight management in cancer care.
Led by Dr. Wonyoung Jung, M.D., Ph.D., from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the study examined data from the National Health Insurance Service database of South Korea. The cohort consisted of 43,717 women who were newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with no prior history of heart failure. Researchers assessed weight changes before and after diagnosis, with the pre-diagnosis period spanning 0 to 2 years and the post-diagnosis period extending from 0.5 to 2.5 years.
The study categorized patients based on their weight change percentage, which included significant weight loss, weight maintenance, and various degrees of weight gain. Findings showed that 3.5% of patients experienced more than a 10% increase in weight, 10.7% had 5 to 10% weight gain, and a significant portion of patients (63.9%) maintained their weight.
The results revealed that women who gained between 5 and 10% of their body weight had a 59% higher risk of heart failure compared to those who maintained their weight (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.59). For those who gained more than 10%, the risk increased even further (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.85). Interestingly, no association was found between weight loss and heart failure risk.
These findings emphasize the need for careful weight management as part of comprehensive cancer care, particularly in the crucial years following breast cancer diagnosis. The researchers urge oncologists to implement effective weight intervention strategies to safeguard patients’ cardiovascular health.
The study’s authors stress that these results contribute to growing evidence linking weight changes to heart failure risk in breast cancer patients, calling for closer monitoring and targeted interventions in this population.
For more information, refer to the full study: Wonyoung Jung et al, “Weight Changes and Heart Failure Risk After Breast Cancer Development,” JAMA Oncology, 2025. DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.5803.
Source: JAMA Oncology
