Baptist Health physician dedicated to finding answers

When Mini Das, MD, FACC, began noticing a trend among cancer patients who were coming to her for treatment after experiencing heart failure, she took matters into her own hands to find answers to a question no one else was asking.

“I had a strong feeling about sleep apnea, which is when the body is starved of oxygen while resting,” said Dr. Das, medical director of the cardio-oncology program at Baptist Health Louisville. “I knew there was overlap between sleep apnea and cardiology, but the question I needed to understand was did it also overlap with oncology. I began conducting my own research to gather data through real-time patient care, and after about a year and a half, I had enough information to come to a conclusion that has the potential to benefit millions of people worldwide.”

Dr. Das found that sleep apnea appears to be directly linked to an increased risk of heart failure among cancer patients. Her study involving 296 general heart patients and 218 cancer patients with heart problems found that sleep apnea was more common among heart patients in general than in those undergoing cancer treatment, 54% versus 39%. However, sleep apnea among cancer patients with heart problems was equal to or greater than other traditional factors now used to assess heart health risk.
“Sleep apnea has been underestimated,” said Dr. Das. “When you utilize echocardiograms, you can detect and identify abnormalities early on that indicate precursors to disease. Sleep apnea is highly treatable, by ensuring we are not overlooking issues that may contribute to complications and advancement of disease, we have the potential to minimize impact and proactively help high-risk patients.”

For Dr. Das, the ability to help her patients goes beyond her profession and is something she can closely relate to. “I had cancer,” she said. “I know the feeling of hopelessness that accompanies that diagnosis. It’s a monkey on your back that you can’t shake off, and because of that, I am dedicated to walking this journey alongside my patients. It’s personal for them, and it’s personal for me. I innately understand their fear, and I think that not only helps me to be the best physician I can be, but it motivates me to find solutions that can help them live longer, healthier lives.”

Dr. Das considers cardiology a science, but she realizes that, for her, the ability to save lives is an inherent need. “We help women get to their wedding day; we give grandparents time to get to know their grandchildren. It’s the most fulfilling challenge I’ve ever been faced with, and I know that each day matters. People should never give up hope. I won’t give up hope. Together, we can walk through the valleys of cancer until we reach a peak, and to me, knowing I can help someone along that path is invaluable.”