Study Finds Increased Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease Among Patients With Cancer

For patients with cancer, cardiovascular risk was increased, with investigators hypothesizing that there is a relation to altered expression of inflammation and coagulation-related proteins, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart association.

Of the 379,944 patients in the study, 65,047 were diagnosed with cancer during follow-up. For patients with cancer,higher mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD; P* <.0001), higher atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD)-related death (P* <.0001), and higher all-cause death (*P* <.0001) were noted.In the multivariate Cox

!In patients with cancer, there was an increased risk of cardiovascular death vs those who did not have cancer (HR, 2.46). 3d rendered illustration of heart attack and heart disease 3D illustration: © appledesign – stock.adobe.com

Cancer Patients Face Increased Cardiovascular Risk, Study Finds

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart association reveals a significant link between cancer diagnoses and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality.Researchers analyzing data from the UK Biobank cohort found that individuals with cancer, particularly those diagnosed at a younger age, are at higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes. The study highlights the importance of proactive cardiovascular risk management in cancer patients, focusing on inflammation, kidney function, and endocrine factors.

Study Demographics and Cancer Types

The UK Biobank-based cohort study included a substantial number of participants, comparing individuals with cancer to those without. the average age of cancer patients was 59.71 years (± 7.05), considerably younger than those without cancer (55.51 years ± 8.13) (P < .001). The study population was predominantly White (96.7% with cancer vs.93.2% without), with smaller representations of asian (1.6% vs 3.7%), Black (0.3% vs 0.8%), mixed/other (0.8% vs 1.7%), and unknown ethnicities (0.4% vs 0.6%).

Lifestyle factors showed that nearly half of both groups had never smoked (49.2% with cancer vs. 56.0% without), while the vast majority were current alcohol users (92.4% vs 91.5%).

The most common cancer types identified in the study were:

* Skin cancer (34.10%)
* Prostate cancer (13.50%)
* Breast cancer (12.90%)
* gastrointestinal cancers (12.90%)

Cardiovascular Risk Varies by Cancer type and Age

The study found a heightened risk of both CVD and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) mortality across all cancer types. However, the risk wasn’t uniform. Lymphoma and other hematological cancers, head and neck cancers, and breast cancer were associated with the highest cardiovascular risk. Conversely, prostate, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers showed the lowest risk.

Interestingly, younger cancer patients faced a disproportionately higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to those over 75. For patients with breast and gynecological cancers, the risk of CVD-related death was relatively low overall. The risk of CVD-related death increased sharply within the first three years post-diagnosis, then gradually declined over the subsequent seven years. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.044826

Underlying Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Researchers attribute the increased cardiovascular risk in cancer patients primarily to alterations in the expression of proteins related to inflammation and blood coagulation. These changes can contribute to the development of cardiovascular complications.

The authors emphasize the need for increased clinical attention to managing modifiable risk factors in cancer patients. Specifically, they recommend focusing on:

* Endocrine factors: Cancer treatments can disrupt hormonal balance, impacting cardiovascular health.
* Kidney function: Cancer and its treatments can damage the kidneys, increasing CVD risk.
* Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of both cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Importance of Integrated Cancer and Cardiovascular Care

This study underscores the critical need for integrated care approaches that address both cancer and cardiovascular health. Proactive monitoring and management of cardiovascular risk factors in cancer patients can possibly improve outcomes and reduce mortality. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay between cancer and cardiovascular disease and to develop targeted interventions.

Reference:

Du Y, Han S, Cheng J, et al. Risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with diagnosed cancer and associated genetic and proteomic mechanisms: A UK Biobank-based cohort study. J Am Heart Assoc. Published online December 30,2025. doi:10.1161/JAHA.125.044826