title: Exercise training improves heart rate recovery in women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether exercise training improves autonomic function in women with breast cancer (BC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients (aged between 39 and 72 years) with a history of primary invasive BC within the previous 5 years and enrolled in the Mediterranean diet-based DIANA (Diet and Androgens)-5 Trial were subdivided in two groups: a ET group (n = 25) followed a formal ET program of moderate intensity (3 session/week on a bicycle at 60-70% VO2peak for 3 months, followed by one session/week until 1-year follow-up), while a control group (n = 26) did not perform any formal ET. At baseline and after 1-year, all patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET). Heart rate recovery (HRR) was calculated as the difference between heart rate at peak exercise and heart rate at first minute of the cool-down period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between groups in baseline anthropometrical, BC characteristics, metabolic profile, CPET parameters and HRR. Compared to controls, at 1-year follow-up ET group showed a significant improvement in VO2peak (from 12.6 ± 3.0 to 14.5 ± 3.3 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001; p < 0.001 between groups); and in HRR (from 17.6 ± 6.4 to 23.0 ± 8.3 beats/min, p < 0.001; p < 0.001 between groups). In ET group the changes in HRR directly correlated with changes in VO2peak (r = 0.58, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate intensity exercise training in BC survivors is associated with improvement of autonomic function. Whether the improvement of sympatho-vagal balance may favorably modulate some of the pathophysiological mechanisms implied in cancer evolution need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallauria
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santucci de Magistris
authors.affiliation: Medical Statistics Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiodini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucci
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Predictive Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrino
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panico
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
keywords: Autonomic function; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Exercise training; Heart rate recovery