Cumulative burden of new-onset chronic health conditions (CHCs) among older cancer survivors.

Abstract

11528 Background: In the US there are an estimated 11 million survivors of cancer diagnosed at ≥65y of age. Description of the morbidity in these survivors has been limited to single complications or to prevalence of comorbidities. The cumulative burden of CHCs remains unstudied, and is critically needed to inform healthcare delivery in this burgeoning population. Methods: Using SEER-Medicare, we identified 300,082 patients with breast (34%), prostate (33%), colorectal (16%), non-small cell lung (NSCLC 10%) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL 7%) diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 at age > 65y (mean age at diagnosis: 75y; 47% males, 88% non-Hispanic whites). An age-, race-, and sex-similar non-cancer cohort (n = 97,842) was assembled. New-onset non-malignant health conditions (n = 109) were consolidated into 10 organ-specific CHCs. Inpatient CHC visits were used to describe severe CHCs. The cumulative incidence (CI) and cumulative burden (CB) of CHCs was described up to 10y from cancer diagnosis and by attained age – up to six months prior to death or until 12/31/2013. Subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) were described 10y from primary cancer diagnosis. Results: The 10y CI of any CHC and severe CHC was 98% (95%CI 98-99%) and 73% (72-73%) in cancer patients and 92% (91-92%) and 55% (54-55%) in non-cancer controls (hazard ratio [HR10y]: 1.65, 95%CI 1.64-1.66). Cardiovascular conditions were the largest contributor to severe non-malignant CHCs (10y CI: 49%-69%). Prostate cancer survivors had the highest 10y CI for SMNs (19.4%). The CI for severe CHCs was 44% by age 80y and 85% by age 90y, compared to 34% and 54% in controls (p < 0.001). The 10y CB of CHCs was highest among NSCLC (42 CHCs/survivor) and NHL (41 CHCs/survivor) survivors; in comparison, the 10y CB was 31 CHCs/individual in controls. Colorectal cancer survivors had greatest overall burden at age 80y (27 CHCs/survivor) and 90y (36 CHCs/survivor), compared to 13 and 16 CHCs/individual in controls. Conclusions: The cumulative burden of new-onset multimorbidity among older cancer survivors is substantially greater than that of their non-cancer counterparts, providing quantifiable evidence that survivor-adapted healthcare management policies and risk-based interventions are needed.