What does this research mean for the field?

CVD prevalence was 6% with no differences across cardiotoxic treatment risk groups, and 44% of childhood cancer survivors had CVD risk factors regardless of treatment risk. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors across cardiotoxic treatment risk categories in adult childhood cancer survivors and examine differences in lifestyle behaviors.

January 10, 2026Pediatric Blood & CancerOpen Access

Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiotoxic Treatment Risks in Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

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Key result

Cardiotoxic treatment risk is not linked to higher CVD prevalence or risk factors in CCSs.

Why the study?

Higher doses of anthracyclines and heart-relevant radiotherapy increase CVD risk, but the relationship between cardiotoxic treatment risk groups, CVD risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors needed assessment in adult childhood cancer survivors.

Do lifestyle behaviors, CVD prevalence, and CVD risk factors differ across cardiotoxic treatment risk groups in adult childhood cancer survivors?

Population

356 adult childhood cancer survivors aged 18 years or older who survived 5 years or longer

Comparison

Cardiotoxic treatment risk groups (no/low risk vs moderate risk vs high risk)

Design

Cross-sectional study

Authors

RLRuijie LiUniversity of Exeter RIRaquel Revuelta Iniesta ABAlan R. BarkerPreventive Cardiology

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

CVD risk factors warrant attention in all adult CCSs regardless of treatment risk; hypothesis-generating for optimal surveillance strategies.

Key Points

To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors across cardiotoxic treatment risk categories in adult childhood cancer survivors and examine differences in lifestyle behaviors.
Cross-sectional evaluation of N=356 adult childhood cancer survivors diagnosed at ages 0–20 years who survived ≥5 years, assessed between November 2015 and March 2025 at a median age of 33 years (IQR: 26–39).
Participants were stratified by exposure to anthracyclines and heart-relevant radiotherapy into no/low-risk (N=90, 25%), moderate-risk (N=143, 40%), and high-risk (N=123, 35%) groups.
Multinomial logistic regression and comparative statistics assessed lifestyle adherence, cardiovascular disease prevalence, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors across risk tiers.
Overall cardiovascular disease prevalence was 6% across risk groups, though heart valve problems occurred more frequently in the high-risk group (0% in no/low risk, 1% in moderate risk, vs. 4% in high risk; p=0.037).
Cardiovascular risk factors were present in 44% of survivors—including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia—with no significant variation observed across cardiotoxic treatment tiers.
Adherence to health behaviors was generally low and did not differ by cardiotoxic risk group for physical activity, sedentary time, smoking, alcohol use, or most dietary guidelines, although moderate-risk survivors showed a trend toward higher vegetable intake compared to no/low-risk survivors (adjusted OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 0.95–3.98, p=0.070).

Structured PICO

Do lifestyle behaviors, CVD prevalence, and CVD risk factors differ across cardiotoxic treatment risk groups in adult childhood cancer survivors?

Population

356 adult childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) aged ≥18 years at study, diagnosed at ages 0–20, who survived ≥5 years. Median age 33 years, 53% male. Swiss multicenter cohort.

Intervention

Moderate to high cardiotoxic treatment risk (anthracycline doses ≥100 mg/m2 and/or heart-relevant radiotherapy ≥15 Gy)

Comparator

No/low cardiotoxic treatment risk (anthracycline doses <100 mg/m2 and heart-relevant radiotherapy <15 Gy)

Outcome

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors across cardiotoxic treatment risk groups

Adult childhood cancer survivors have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors and poor adherence to lifestyle recommendations, regardless of their past cardiotoxic treatment risk level.

Cite This Study

Li et al. (2026) studied this question. CVD prevalence was 6% with no differences across cardiotoxic treatment risk groups, and 44% of CCSs had CVD risk factors regardless of treatment risk.

synapsesocial.com/papers/696321c391e05aa366cb8089 https://doi.org/10.1002/1545-5017.70089

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Implication

CVD risk factors warrant attention in all adult CCSs regardless of treatment risk; hypothesis-generating for optimal surveillance strategies.

Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiotoxic Treatment Risks in Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiotoxic Treatment Risks in Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider