International Survey Reveals Profound Gaps in Cardio-Oncology Training Across 63 Countries
核心洞察
An international survey of 398 respondents from 63 countries found only 10% received cardio-oncology training during medical school and 17% during residency.
A striking 87% of respondents reported no availability of structured cardio-oncology educational programmes at their institutions.
Diagnosing cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (搜索) and risk stratification were identified as key priority knowledge areas by survey participants.
An international survey has exposed profound educational deficiencies in cardio-oncology training worldwide, despite the field's growing clinical importance as cancer survival rates improve. The findings were presented at ESC Cardio-Oncology 2026, the second annual conference of the European Society of Cardiology's Council of Cardio-Oncology, held in Vienna, Austria.
The survey, conducted by the Cardio-Oncologists Of tomorrow Leaders (COOL) group within the ESC Council, represents the first comprehensive, international assessment of cardio-oncology education spanning from medical school through postgraduate training.
"Improving cardio-oncology education is a must – across all stages of medical training and all specialties involved – to enable prevention and early management of cardiovascular complications in patients with cancer," said Doctor Massimiliano Camilli from the Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Stark Training Deficits Across the Educational Continuum
The anonymised, web-based survey gathered responses from 398 participants across 63 countries, with 73% being board-certified cardiologists. The results painted a concerning picture of educational access: only 10% of respondents reported exposure to cardio-oncology training during medical school, and merely 17% during residency.
Perhaps most alarming, 87% of respondents indicated that no structured cardio-oncology educational programmes were available at their institutions. Subgroup analyses revealed that access to training opportunities was greater among those working in academic hospitals and among participants from European countries compared with non-European nations.
Priority Knowledge Areas and Preferred Learning Formats
Respondents identified diagnosing cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (搜索) as a critical knowledge priority, alongside strategies for risk stratification, prevention, and monitoring. These areas reflect the core clinical challenge of cardio-oncology: optimising cancer treatment while minimising cardiovascular toxicity.
The preferred learning formats highlighted by survey participants included dedicated cardio-oncology fellowships, webinars, university master's degrees, and position statements on controversial topics developed by scientific societies. Respondents pointed to the ESC and national cardiac societies as the principal organisations capable of leading educational efforts in the field.
A Path Forward: Curriculum and Certification
"The survey identified profound gaps in cardio-oncology education during medical school and residency and in structured institutional programmes," Camilli noted. He emphasised that efforts are already underway to address these deficiencies: "The recently released ESC Core Curriculum for Cardio-Oncology, together with the ESC Guidelines, facilitate training standardisation and provide the foundations for new ESC Cardio-Oncology certification."
The ESC established its Council of Cardio-Oncology and published expert-led guidelines on cardio-oncology in 2022, recognising that while modern cancer treatments are helping patients live longer, there is growing concern about cardiovascular side effects. The COOL group was specifically created to engage the next generation of cardio-oncology specialists and develop educational strategies to meet their evolving needs.