The relationship of increasing age, obesity, and comorbidities in uterine cancer survivors.

Abstract

e16551 Background: Age and obesity are both associated with mortality after a diagnosis of uterine cancer. Women with uterine cancer are likely to have multiple comorbidities and are as likely to die of these conditions as of their cancer. These comorbidities may influence associations of age and obesity with mortality; therefore we sought to determine the association of age and obesity with comorbidities among a cohort of uterine cancer survivors. Methods: We conducted a single-institution survey-based study of uterine cancer patients undergoing surveillance who were diagnosed between 2006 and 2010, using the Charlson Comorbidity Index, in addition to collecting clinical-pathologic information. Descriptive analyses were performed followed by crude and adjusted generalized linear models, and multivariate logistic regression using STATA v13.1. Results: We obtained a 43% response rate (n=213). The mean age was 63.6 (SD 10.6). Racial distribution included 83% Caucasian, 13% African-American, and 3% other. Histology included 97% endometrial (75% Type I, 17% type II, 4% carcinosarcoma), and 4% sarcoma. 14% consisted of advanced stage. 96% underwent surgery and 49% received adjuvant treatment. 14% had diabetes and 49% had cardiovascular disease. Increasing age was associated with more frequent comorbidities. 40% of women age≥ 70 had ≥1 comorbidities compared to only 13% in those age<60. This relationship persisted even after adjusting for BMI only (OR 6.27, 95%CI 2.30-17.08); and after adjusting for BMI, race, stage, histology, and length of follow-up (OR 4.81, 95%CI 4.81-15.93). BMI was also independently associated with increased comorbidities. Patients with BMI≥35 had 6.1 times the odds of ≥1 comorbidities (95%CI 1.80-20.70) compared to patients with normal BMI. Conclusions: Both increasing age and BMI were independently associated with increased comorbidities in uterine cancer survivors. Most of the comorbidities in this population are controllable with appropriate medical intervention. Further research into developing interventions to diminish the prevalence and impact of these comorbidities may improve the overall survival of uterine cancer patients.