Head and Neck Cancer Survivors may have Increased Stroke Risk: JAMA

A comprehensive study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that survivors of head and neck cancers (HNC) face a significantly increased risk of stroke. The findings from the Singaporean national registry-based cross-sectional study that spanned from 2005 to 2020 and underscored the urgent need for tailored strategies and increased awareness among healthcare professionals and patients.

This research looked into data from various registries including the Singapore Cancer Registry, the Singapore Stroke Registry and the Registry of Birth and Deaths. The team led by Pui Lam Yip utilized standardized methods to analyze the stroke risk among subgroups of the HNC population after considering for factors such as demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment modalities.

The key findings from the study revealed that out of the 9,803 survivors of HNC identified, approximately 3.4% developed stroke over a median follow-up period of 42.5 months. The analysis showed a sharp 2.46-fold increase in the age-standardized incidence rate ratio (SIRR) of stroke among HNC survivors when compared to the general population. The age-standardized incidence rate difference (SIRD) stood at 4.11 strokes per 1000 person-years which emphasized the substantial risk burden faced by this population.

The study underlined observations that the risk of stroke remained elevated across various subgroups which includes different age brackets, cancer subsites, stages, histologies and treatment approaches. Also, the individuals undergoing primary radiation treatment expressed a significantly higher risk when compared to the individuals who opt for primary surgery. Overall, this study emphasized the importance of early screening and intervention strategies customized to the unique needs of HNC survivors.

Reference:

Yip, P. L., Zheng, H., Cheo, T., Tan, T. H., Lee, S. F., Leong, Y. H., Wong, L. C., Tey, J., Ho, F., & Soon, Y. Y. (2024). Stroke Risk in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 2, p. e2354947). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54947