Risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with gastric cancer

PURPOSE: To assess the excess cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in patients with gastric cancer (GC) compared with the general population. METHODS: Using data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, we conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 41,083 GC patients ≥30 years old between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2021. A reference cohort from the corresponding general population was also included. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for CVD mortality were estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: GC patients were associated with a higher risk of CVD mortality relative to the general population (IRR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.40-1.52). The relative risk was highest among younger patients aged 30-39 years (IRR: 7.69; 95% CI: 2.48-23.86). Cardiovascular mortality risk peaked during the first month after cancer diagnosis (IRR: 11.52; 95% CI: 9.97-13.31). The relationship between GC and CVD mortality varied according to demographic and clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: These population-based findings support early cardiac assessment and comprehensive risk stratification in GC care. Prospective studies with richer confounder data are needed to test whether these strategies improve outcomes.