Bringing a new vision for cardio-oncology care at CardioTox25
The GRACE Project participated for the first time in CardioTox25, the 11th edition of the leading international congress dedicated to improving cardiovascular care for cancer patients.
The GRACE Project participated for the first time in CardioTox25, the 11th edition of the leading international congress dedicated to improving cardiovascular care for cancer patients. The event gathered professionals from across oncology, haematology, cardiology, primary care and nursing — all united by a shared mission: optimising cardiovascular health throughout the cancer journey.
During the congress, organised primarily by La Paz University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) together with the main scientific societies related to cardiology in the country, we had the privilege of hosting a dedicated session to explore how innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration could transform the care model in cardio-oncology — which aligns directly with the mission of GRACE.
The session was designed to bring together the voices of key stakeholders involved in the care of these complex patients: clinicians, industry representatives, health authorities and patient-facing experts, to reflect on how digital tools can support safer, more continuous and more personalised care.
The debate emphasised that improving outcomes for cardio-oncology patients requires more than new technologies — it demands a rethinking of how care is organised. Speakers highlighted the need to break silos, strengthen communication across specialties, and ensure true continuity of care throughout the patient journey. Within this context, digital solutions emerged as strategic enablers to support early detection, remote monitoring, patient empowerment and smoother coordination among healthcare professionals.
The session was co-chaired by Dr. Teresa López-Fernández, leader of the GRACE Use Case on cardio-oncology at Hospital Universitario La Paz, who underlined the urgency of reshaping the care model to better address the real needs of complex patients, and by Germán Gutiérrez, representing Medtronic as the industry leader of GRACE, who stressed the importance of cross-ecosystem collaboration to ensure the effective adoption of innovative solutions that generate value for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems.
The wider clinical team — including Raúl Moreno, Javier de Castro Carpeño, Fernando Martín-Sánchez, and Esther Rey — contributed perspectives from interventional cardiology, oncology, digital health and nursing, all reinforcing the message that this complex patient population needs a coordinated, integrated approach. Additionally, Paula Molina Avila, from the Comunidad de Madrid, added strategic insights on how to strengthen safety, effectiveness and humanisation in care pathways for high-risk patients.
A patient-centric activity: understanding the acceptance of digital health tools
In parallel with the scientific session, GRACE conducted a short digital survey aimed at patients and potential users to explore their perception of — and openness to — incorporating digital technologies into their care experience. The results were highly encouraging and confirmed a clear interest in tools that complement traditional in-person care. Key findings:
Strong openness to digital health tools
A majority of respondents (57%) had already used a digital health app or tool at some point — a positive indicator of familiarity and readiness to adopt new solutions.
High demand for simple, informative applications
Across all respondents, 73% expressed interest in having a simple app that provides information about their condition and recommended care. Among those with cancer and/or cardiovascular disease, interest rose to 77%.
Clear appetite for real-time health information
The most striking finding was the overwhelming desire for real-time insights: 83% of all respondents — and 92% of patients with cancer and/or cardiovascular disease — wanted an app that could provide real-time information about their health status.
Confidence in remote monitoring as a complement to traditional care
Over 50% of respondents expressed moderate to strong confidence in remote monitoring carried out by their medical team to complement scheduled in-person visits, while only a small minority expressed reluctance. This indicates that patients are open to hybrid models of care, especially when remote monitoring is presented as support — not a replacement — for traditional consultations.
Strong belief that digital tools can improve healthcare
More than 55% of participants believed that digital tools would help improve their healthcare. This trend was similar among patients with cancer and/or cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the idea that digital innovation is perceived as an opportunity to gain clarity, control and continuity in their care.
Together, these findings confirm that patients — and future users — are not only ready for digital innovation but actively expecting more personalised, accessible and continuous care options.
The participation in CardioTox25 represented an important milestone for GRACE, marking its first presence at a major international congress in this specialty. The combination of expert discussion and patient-centred insights reflected the project’s commitment to shaping a new model of care that is digital, integrated and truly centred on what patient’s value most. GRACE will continue sharing updates and engaging with the community in future editions of CardioTox, contributing to the advancement of innovative, sustainable and patient-centric cardiovascular care across Europe.
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