Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Cancer Survivors after Systemic Treatment

Abstract

Background

Patients face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease shortly after a cancer diagnosis, but evidence on long-term risk among cancer survivors remains limited.

Objectives

In this study the authors sought to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors previously treated with systemic cancer therapy.

Methods

Using Danish population-based registries, we identified individuals who had received systemic cancer treatment and were free of both cancer and treatment 3 years after diagnosis (index date). For each cancer survivor, 5 cancer-free individuals from the general population were randomly selected, matched by birth year, sex, and calendar year. Participants were followed from the index date for up to 5 years. HRs were estimated using Cox regression, adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Compared with 457,035 matched individuals, the 91,407 cancer survivors had an increased risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15), venous thromboembolism (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.41-1.61), pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.11-1.52), and kidney failure (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.10-1.25), but not of ischemic heart disease, stroke, or atrial fibrillation. Estimates varied substantially by cancer type and treatment agent. For example, venous thromboembolism risk was consistently increased across nearly all cancer types, whereas hypertension risk was elevated for none. Ischemic heart disease risk was increased only among lung cancer survivors. Stroke was associated with platinum compounds but not with other systemic treatments.

Conclusions

Several cardiovascular disease risks were elevated among cancer survivors, with substantial variation by cancer type and treatment.