Long-term risk of cardiovascular disease among colorectal cancer survivors in a population-based cohort study.
113 Background: In the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer death. Few studies have examined the relationship between colorectal cancer survivorship and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer were identified using the Utah Population Database. For a comparison group, up to 5 cancer-free individuals were matched by birth year, birth state, follow-up time and sex to each cancer case. For individuals with > 10 years of follow-up, we estimated CVD risk > 10 years after cancer diagnosis. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% Confidence Intervals. Results: Among 1,749 colorectal cancer survivors who had survived for at least 10 years, 1,001 (57.2%) were diagnosed with CVD > 10 years after cancer diagnosis. Compared to the general population, colorectal cancer survivors had an increased risk of CVD > 10 years after cancer diagnosis: HR = 2.84 (95% CI = 2.59, 3.11) for hypertension; HR = 2.66 (95% CI 2.37, 2.98) for diseases of the heart; HR = 3.91 (95% CI = 3.33, 4.58) for diseases of the arteries, arterioles and capillaries; HR = 2.58 (95% CI = 2.46, 2.99) for diseases of the veins and lymphatics; HR = 2.98 (95% CI = 2.36, 3.76) for cerebrovascular disease. Colorectal cancer survivors with ≥1 comorbidity had an increased risk of CVD > 10 years after cancer diagnosis compared to survivors with no comorbidities (HR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.49, 1.95). Colorectal cancer survivors who were ≥65 years had an increased risk of CVD > 10 years after cancer diagnosis. Colorectal cancer survivors who were obese at the time of diagnosis had an increased risk of CVD > 10 years after cancer diagnosis when compared to survivors with normal BMIs (HR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.06, 1.49). Conclusions: Compared to the general population, colorectal cancer survivors had an increased risk of CVD during the > 10 year follow-up period. Within colorectal cancer survivors, there was an increased risk of CVD for those that were older, had ≥1 comorbidity and were obese. The increased risk of CVD among survivors may be attributable to the lifestyle risk factors shared by colorectal cancer and CVD.