Adult survivors of childhood cancer often undertreated for cardiovascular risk

Adults who survive childhood cancer have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population, yet they are 80% more likely to be undertreated for several cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

Previous research has shown that due to their exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiation, childhood cancer survivors may face up to a five-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, compared to the general population. Multiple studies have shown that most adult childhood cancer survivors report receiving only general medical care, not specific to their experience with cancer. Previous research also suggests that cancer survivors are not receiving recommended cardiovascular screenings in a timely manner due to limited awareness of future health complications by survivors and health care professionals.

Researchers in the present study measured blood pressure, lipids, glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels in nearly 600 adults, with an average of 28 years after cancer diagnosis and obtained similar data on a comparison group of nearly 350 same-age adults without a history of cancer.

It was found that cancer survivors were more likely than those without a history of cancer to have hypertension, abnormal lipid levels and diabetes. Participants in both groups had similar rates of underdiagnosed hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. However, cancer survivors were 80% more likely to be undertreated for these conditions compared to their study counterparts.

Hence it was concluded that serious heart disease is uncommon in young adults in the general population, which includes childhood cancer survivors, therefore, greater awareness of the significantly higher cardiovascular disease risk when there is a history of cancer is important.