Abstract
This study compared the odds of self-reported and objectively measured cardiovascular (cv) risk factors in a sample of Canadian cancer survivors and individuals without cancer. A nationally representative sample of 45- to 85-year-old cancer survivors (n = 6288) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were compared with individuals without cancer (n = 44,051). The most prevalent risk factors in cancer survivors were all self-reported or easily measured in clinic: overweight or obesity (68.0%), former smoking (62.9%), fewer than 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables (59.8%), hypertension (43.7%), and high waist circumference (47.0%). After adjustment for sex and education, the odds ratios of several cv risk factors varied by age in cancer survivors and the non-cancer controls. At ages 50 and 60, cancer survivors have increased odds of overweight or obesity, former smoking, hypertension, high waist circumference and truncal fat, diabetes, lung disease, and heart rate greater than 80 bpm compared with non-cancer controls. At age 70, odds did not differ for many risk factors; at age 80, no differences were evident. Without modification by age, low physical activity was more prevalent in cancer survivors (odds ratio: 1.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 1.39). There were no differences in the odds of cv risk factors measured by specialized equipment, including electrocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, spirometry, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The odds of several easy-to-assess cv disease risk factors are higher among middle-aged, but not older, cancer survivors relative to the general Canadian population. Initial assessment of cv risk for middle-aged adults in the survivorship setting could be quickly and inexpensively performed using self-reported and easily measured metrics.
Highlights
In 2017, 206,200 Canadians were expected to be diagnosed with cancer, and thanks to increasingly effective treatment, approximately 810,000 Canadians were living cancer survivors who had been diagnosed in the preceding 10 years[1]
Results from the present study clearly identify the importance of diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and diabetes, including enhancement of healthy lifestyle behaviours, as a cv risk management technique in cancer survivors
The cv risk factors that are most prevalent in cancer survivors or that have elevated odds in cancer survivors compared with individuals without a history of cancer are selfreported or measured in clinic
Summary
In 2017, 206,200 Canadians were expected to be diagnosed with cancer, and thanks to increasingly effective treatment, approximately 810,000 Canadians were living cancer survivors who had been diagnosed in the preceding 10 years[1]. Given the significant risk of cv mortality after a cancer diagnosis and the growing number of cancer survivors, it is crucial to characterize cv morbidity in cancer survivors. Numerous modifiable risk factors—including hypertension, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable consumption, and overweight or obesity—have been associated with an increased risk of cv disease in the general population[7]. Those risk factors can be assessed by self-report, but a number of objective e368. This study compared the odds of self-reported and objectively measured cardiovascular (cv) risk factors in a sample of Canadian cancer survivors and individuals without cancer
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