Key result
Prior systemic cancer therapy linked to ~8% higher risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
Evidence on long-term cardiovascular disease risk among cancer survivors previously treated with systemic cancer therapy remains limited.
Does prior systemic cancer treatment increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors compared to the general population?
Cohort (n=548,442)
Does prior systemic cancer treatment increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors compared to the general population?
Hazard Ratio: 1.08 (95% CI 1.02–1.15)
Absolute Event Rate: 2.73% vs 2.42%
Cancer survivors treated with systemic therapy face a significantly elevated long-term risk of specific cardiovascular diseases, particularly venous thromboembolism and inflammatory heart diseases, highlighting the need for tailored cardio-oncology surveillance.
May warrant enhanced CV surveillance in treated survivors; leaves open therapy-specific risks and mitigation strategies.
BACKGROUND: Patients face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease shortly after a cancer diagnosis, but evidence on long-term risk among cancer survivors remains limited. OBJECTIVES: In this study the authors sought to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors previously treated with systemic cancer therapy. METHODS: Using Danish population-based registries, we identified individuals who had received systemic cancer treatment and were free of both cancer and treatment 3 years after diagnosis (index date). For each cancer survivor, 5 cancer-free individuals from the general population were randomly selected, matched by birth year, sex, and calendar year. Participants were followed from the index date for up to 5 years. HRs were estimated using Cox regression, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Compared with 457,035 matched individuals, the 91,407 cancer survivors had an increased risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15), venous thromboembolism (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.41-1.61), pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.11-1.52), and kidney failure (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.10-1.25), but not of ischemic heart disease, stroke, or atrial fibrillation. Estimates varied substantially by cancer type and treatment agent. For example, venous thromboembolism risk was consistently increased across nearly all cancer types, whereas hypertension risk was elevated for none. Ischemic heart disease risk was increased only among lung cancer survivors. Stroke was associated with platinum compounds but not with other systemic treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Several cardiovascular disease risks were elevated among cancer survivors, with substantial variation by cancer type and treatment.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mulder et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Cancer survivors previously treated with systemic cancer therapy (n=548,442). Systemic cancer therapy vs. Matched cancer-free individuals from the general population was evaluated on Heart failure or cardiomyopathy (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15). Systemic cancer therapy in cancer survivors was associated with an increased risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy (HR 1.08) and venous thromboembolism (HR 1.50) compared to matched cancer-free comparators.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: