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Posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6 a.m.
Australian study suggests a higher incidence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, among cancer survivors.
Flinders University (Australia) researchers report that people with cancer may be at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol in cancer survivors, with the correlation more so elevated among men. Bogda Koczwara and colleagues analyzed data collected on the general health of 2160 South Australian adult cancer survivors with 4100 matched adults without cancer. Then team revealed a much higher prevalence of chronic conditions in the cancer group than the non-cancer group, irrespective of lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity and obesity. Observing that: “Despite similar lifestyle habits and BMI, the prevalence of chronic conditions was significantly higher among people with a history of cancer than among controls without cancer,” the study authors submit that: “This supports the importance of chronic disease management as part of health care after a diagnosis of cancer.”
Narelle M Berry, Michelle D Miller, Richard J Woodman, John Coveney, James Dollman, Catherine R Mackenzie Bogda Koczwara. “Differences in chronic conditions and lifestyle behaviour between people with a history of cancer and matched controls.” Med J Aust 2014; 201 (2): 96-100.
