Preventive fraction of long-term cardiac function with cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in childhood leukemia survivors.

In childhood leukemia survivors, doxorubicin leads to dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, despite early diagnosis with both echocardiography and MRI investigations. Physical activity has the potential to reduce the chronic disease risk, but it is currently unknown whether a good cardiorespiratory fitness or the regular practice of physical activity is enough to induce a preventive action on the cardiac function. This study included 81 ALL survivors and found that a good cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with a better preventive fraction, similarly to a good physical activity level. It would be more than 80% of the survivors who could benefit from these long-term effects.