Individuals suffering from heart disease may face a heightened risk of developing and dying from cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers in Scotland. The study analyzed health data from over 20,000 individuals over two decades, examining the incidence of heart disease and cancer, as well as mortality rates from both conditions.
Researchers found that men with heart disease were 70 percent more likely to develop cancer than those without the condition. For women, the likelihood of developing cancer increased by approximately 60 percent if they had heart disease. The study also indicated that men with heart disease were 50 percent more likely to die from cancer than women, a difference potentially linked to the higher prevalence of heart disease in men and their greater exposure to cancer-promoting risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
The research, published in the European Heart Journal, followed 22,534 participants who were cancer-free at the study's commencement for an average of 26 years. Of these participants, about 57 percent were women, and the average age was 59. During the follow-up period, 10,889 participants either had pre-existing heart disease or developed it.
Specific forms of cancer, notably lung, colon, and esophageal cancers, were found to be most common among the study participants, particularly in men. These cancers share several risk factors with heart disease, including smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption, which may contribute to their increased incidence in individuals with cardiovascular conditions.
By age 75, men with heart disease had a 17 percent risk of developing cancer, compared to 10 percent in men without the disease, representing a 70 percent difference. For women, those with heart disease at age 75 had a 13 percent risk of cancer, versus an eight percent risk for those without the condition, a 62 percent difference. The study also highlighted that men with heart disease had a three-fold greater risk of stomach and esophageal cancer, along with a 1.5-fold increased risk of lung cancer, by age 75, compared to women with heart disease.
The study authors suggest that the association between heart disease and cancer may stem from shared lifestyle risk factors. They emphasize the need for better understanding of the drivers of cancer development in populations with cardiovascular disease and the development of pathways to identify and prevent cancer in patients with cardiac conditions. While cardio-oncology services have historically focused on preventing cardiovascular disease in cancer patients, the researchers propose a reciprocal focus is needed to address cancer development in those with existing heart conditions.