A history of cancer increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients

A history of cancer increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients

A study published in the journalHypertension researchshows that a history of cancer may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with high blood pressure.

background

A growing body of evidence underscores the connection between high blood pressure and cancer, as both high blood pressure and cancer risk increase with age and that certain cancer drugs increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Several epidemiological studies have found that high blood pressure may increase the risk of certain cancers and that people with a history of cancer are more likely to develop cardiovascular complications.

Given the possible link between the risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer, the scientists in this study evaluated the risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals with a history of cancer.

Study design

The study population included 747,620 people diagnosed with hypertension between January 2005 and May 2022. Patient information was collected from the JMDC Claims Database, a nationwide healthcare database in Japan.

Appropriate statistical analyzes were performed to determine the risk of composite cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, based on the participant's history of cancer and chemotherapy.

A history of cancer was defined as a diagnosis of malignancy before the first health examination.

During the health check, self-reported information on comorbidities (obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia), alcohol consumption and smoking status, and physical activity level were collected from participants.

Important observations

From the entire study population of 747,620 participants with hypertension, a total of 26,531 individuals with a history of cancer were identified. Participants with a history of cancer were more likely to be older adults, less likely to be men, and more likely to have diabetes. In contrast, participants with no history of cancer were more likely to be overweight and to currently smoke.

A total of 67,154 composite cardiovascular diseases were identified during the study's follow-up period through May 2022. Hypertensive patients with a history of cancer showed a significantly higher risk of developing compound cardiovascular diseases. However, the risk of developing a heart attack was not statistically significant.

The highest risk of developing cardiovascular disease other than myocardial infarction was observed in cancer survivors who received chemotherapy compared to those who did not receive chemotherapy or those who had no history of cancer.

As for myocardial infarction, a higher risk was observed in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy than in patients without a history of cancer.

Five cancers, including colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidney, pelvic and ureter cancer, and lung cancer, had the highest prevalence in men. In women, the highest prevalence was observed for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, cervical cancer and cervical cancer.

A significantly higher risk of composite cardiovascular events was observed in men with a history of lung cancer and women with a history of breast cancer than in women with no history of cancer.

A sensitivity analysis performed taking into account age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity showed a similar positive association between a history of cancer and the risk of composite cardiovascular diseases.

Study Importance

The study finds that hypertensive patients with a history of cancer have a higher risk of developing various cardiovascular diseases than patients without a history of cancer. The risk of cardiovascular disease is even higher in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

The study results underline the need for early cancer screening in patients with high blood pressure. Doctors should treat hypertensive patients more carefully, as cancer comorbidity not only negatively affects cancer mortality, but also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The co-occurrence of cancer and hypertension represents a significant health crisis in Asian countries. To prevent adverse consequences on cardiovascular health, the implementation of appropriate health measures is necessary, especially in developing countries with advanced age.

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