High Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Risks and Health Needs Among Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Treatment: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Many studies have indicated that inadequate health-related behavior is associated with the progression of cancer and cardiometabolic disorders. Because patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may adopt inadequate health behaviors, they are at risk for cancer recurrence, mortality, cardiometabolic disease progression, and worse quality of life.

Objective: To explore the prevalence of cardiometabolic risks and health-promoting behaviors associated with quality of life among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to August 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, and cardiometabolic information was recorded from medical charts.

Results: In total, 115 patients with liver cancer after treatment were enrolled; 73% were male. The mean age was 67.7 years, and high prevalence rates of central obesity (72.2%) and metabolic syndrome (47%) were noted. Inadequate exercise, oral hygiene, and cigarette smoking were common. The health-promoting score was significantly associated with exercise, the number of remaining teeth, and metabolic syndrome, which correlated with quality of life, including positive functional and negative symptoms dimensions.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risks and inadequate health-related behaviors among patients with liver cancer after treatment. This study highlights the need for healthcare providers to help patients increase health literacy for preventing cardiometabolic risks at outpatient clinics.

Implications for practice: Findings from this study can be used to advise healthcare providers to educate patients with liver cancer during and after treatment on improving their health-promoting behaviors.