Abstract 16935: Cardiovascular Disease in Head Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients - A Case-Control Study Using Electronic Medical Records Data

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer survivors have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to age-adjusted general population. However, traditional CVD risk factors alone do not fully explain increased CVD risk in cancer patients. Cancer-related factors like cancer site, stage and chemotherapy may also contribute to CVD. Despite increase in head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases in recent years, little is known about CVD risk in HNSCC patients. We aim to assess association of traditional risk factors and cancer-related factors with CVD in HNSCC patients. Methods: Electronic medical records data of 2391 HNSCC patients diagnosed between 2012-2018 at the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, were included. ICD-9/10 codes were used to identify HNSCC patients, CVD cases and traditional risk factors. CVD cases were defined as those with composite events of ischemic heart disease and/ or heart failure; controls were without any CVD diagnosis. Cancer site, stage and treatment were included. Logistic regression [OR(95%CI)] was used to assess association of risk factors with CVD, adjusting for age, race, and gender. Results: HNSCC patients were mostly white (82.7%), male (74.7%) and had Stage III/IV cancer (46.6%). Oral cavity was the most common cancer site (32.9%), followed by oropharynx (31.7%); 55.4% patients had hypertension, 23.0% had dyslipidemia, and 16.1% had diabetes. CVD was diagnosed in 16.1% patients, who were more likely to be older [median age 67.0 vs 60.0 years, p<0.0001]. In the multivariable model, hypertension [2.08(1.54-2.80)], diabetes [2.03(1.52-2.70)] and dyslipidemia [2.36(1.82-3.07)] were associated with CVD. Smoking status was not associated. Association of cancer stage with CVD varied by cancer site. Stage III/IV oropharynx cancer patients had lower odds of CVD than stage I/II oropharynx patients [0.38(0.30-0.92)]. No association with cancer stage was observed in oral cavity patients. Compared to chemotherapy, surgery [0.85(0.63-1.14)] and other treatments {0.61(0.41-0.89)] had lower odds of CVD. Conclusions: Traditional CVD risk factors remain associated with CVD in HNSCC patients. In addition, cancer-related factors (oropharynx cancer, advanced cancer stage and chemotherapy) are also associated with CVD.