The influence of comorbidity on mortality in ovarian cancer patients

Abstract

BackgroundOvarian cancer is a severe disease with a peak incidence in the older age groups where concurrent morbidity is common and could potentially influence mortality rates. ObjectivesThe aim was to study the influence of common comorbidity diagnoses on mortality in ovarian cancer patients. MethodsThe study population was patients with ovarian cancer in Sweden 1993–2006 (n=11.139) identified in the national Cancer Register. Comorbidity data was obtained from the Patient Register and mortality from Cause of Death Register. Mortality was analyzed with Cox' proportional hazards models and subgroup analyses were performed by age and tumor histology. ResultsAlmost all of the assessed comorbidities increased mortality in ovarian cancer patients. Thromboembolism was the most hazardous comorbidity (HR=1.95, <1year after cancer diagnosis and HR=7.83, 1–5years after cancer diagnosis) followed by hematologic complications (HR=1.84 and 7.11 respectively) and infectious disease (HR=1.48 and 5.28 respectively). The occurrence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension had less impact on mortality. ConclusionThromboembolism, hematologic complications and infections had a pronounced effect on mortality rates in women with ovarian cancer. The impact of comorbidity was mainly apparent among those with a more prosperous prognosis, such as longer time since cancer diagnosis, less aggressive tumors and younger age.