Incidence, predictors and prognosis of new-onset cancer after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Introduction and objectivesThe concurrence of cancer and ischemic heart disease is a controversial issue, given the confluence of risk factors for both diseases. The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of new-onset cancer after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MethodsRetrospective multicenter registry that includes 3867 consecutive patients discharged for ACS without a known history of cancer, from 2011 to 2015. The association between clinical variables and cancer occurrence was assessed by Fine-Gray proportional hazards regression analysis, and its prognostic impact was evaluated using Cox and Fine-Gray regression models. ResultsThe cumulative incidence of cancer was 2.47 per 100 patient/years. Four independent predictors of follow-up cancer were identified: age, male sex, smoking, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. We have constructed a simple risk score, based on the coefficients of these variables in the final multivariable model. Using this score, we stratified our population according to the risk of developing cancer: low (1.03% per year), moderate (2.35% per year), and high-risk (10.51% per year) groups. Post-discharge cancer was independently associated with an increased risk of non-cardiovascular death (HR, 17.65; 95%CI, 10.47–29.76) and bleeding (sHR, 2.54; 95%CI, 1.21–5.34), but not with reinfarction (sHR, 0.50; 95%CI, 0.16–1.56). ConclusionsCancer occurrence after hospital discharge for ACS is relatively low, but it could be predicted by the combination of 4 easily available clinical risk factors: age, male sex, smoking, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Post-discharge cancer is associated with a higher risk of subsequent death and bleeding events.