A new population-based study published in JACC: CardioOncology has found that cancer survivors treated with systemic therapies continue to face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) years after their treatment ends.

Researchers examined health outcomes for 91,407 cancer survivors who had completed systemic therapy and were free from cancer and its treatment for at least three years. These individuals were compared with 457,035 matched individuals from the general population who had no history of cancer, matched by age, sex, and calendar year. The follow-up period was five years.

The findings showed a significant increase in cardiovascular risks for cancer survivors than the general population. The study reported an 8% higher risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.08), a 50% higher risk of venous thromboembolism (HR: 1.50), and a 30% higher risk of inflammatory heart conditions such as pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis (HR: 1.30). They also showed a 17% increased risk of kidney failure (HR: 1.17).

No increased risk was observed for ischemic heart disease, stroke, or atrial fibrillation in the general group of survivors. However, there were notable exceptions by cancer type and treatment. For example, ischemic heart disease risk was elevated only among lung cancer survivors, while stroke risk increased only with platinum-based chemotherapy. However, venous thromboembolism risk remained consistently high across nearly all cancer types. Hypertension risk was not elevated in any group.