Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors are liable to experiencing treatment-related effects later in life, including damage to the guts. Recent research has identified various sociodemographic and modifiable risk aspects related to these patients’ risk of developing heart problems (CVD). The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

The study by investigators at Duke University and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center relied on 2009–2018 data from the National Health Interview Survey, which collects information on a broad range of health topics through personal interviews of US households. Responses from 4,766 AYA cancer survivors and 47,660 controls (with no history of cancer) were included.

The chance of CVD was significantly higher in survivors than controls by sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, smoking status, and physical activity. Also, household income <$50K/yr disproportionately increased the chances of CVD in survivors compared with controls.

Within the AYA survivor population, male sex, Black race, household income <$50K/yr, and current or former smoking were all related to higher odds of CVD. Performing any moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity was related to lower CVD odds.

These results highlight the importance of long-term surveillance of AYAs after cancer treatment to be certain that appropriate screenings are initiated to scale back the chance of CVD and to advertise healthy behavioral changes, comparable to physical activity, which impact long-term CVD outcomes.”

Amy Berkman, MD, Lead Creator, Duke University School of Medicine

Source:

Journal reference:

Berkman, A.M., et al. (2022) Heart problems in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: Impact of sociodemographic and modifiable risk aspects. Cancer. doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34505.