Cardiovascular and metabolic complications during androgen deprivation: exercise as a potential countermeasure

• Published in: Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 233 - 240
• Main Authors: Galvão, D A, Taaffe, D R, Spry, N, Joseph, D, Newton, R U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.09.2009; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Androgen Antagonists - adverse effects; Androgens; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Care and treatment; Complications; Complications and side effects; Deprivation; Diagnosis; Exercise; Health aspects; Health risks; Humans; Male; Metabolic Diseases - etiology; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; Morbidity; Physical exercise; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Quality of life; review; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Toxicity; Australia; metabolic syndrome; cardiovascular disease; prostate cancer; physical exercise; androgen deprivation
• ISSN: 1365-7852; 1476-5608
• DOI: 10.1038/pcan.2009.12

Apart from the well-established adverse musculoskeletal and sexual health effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), evidence is accumulating of substantial ADT-related cardiovascular and metabolic complications, which may impact quality of life and overall survival. In this brief review we discuss (1) the incidence of cardiovascular and metabolic complications during/following ADT from large cohort studies, (2) the increased risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease from cross-sectional and prospective studies and (3) the use of physical exercise as a countermeasure in this new era of ADT-related toxicity. It is clear that exercise has the potential to provide a myriad of benefits to men undergoing ADT that may result in reduced morbidity and mortality, and subsequently improve quality of life.