Cardiovascular events after elective colorectal cancer surgery in patients with stage I-III disease with no previous cardiovascular disease

Thea Helene Degett*, Ida Rask Moustsen-Helms, Signe Benzon Larsen, Trille Kristina Kjær, Anne Tjønneland, Susanne Krüger Kjær, Christoffer Johansen, Ismail Gögenur, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton

*Corresponding author for this work

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2 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: The risk of cardiovascular events in patients treated for colorectal cancer is debated due to diverging results in previous studies. Colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease share several risk factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking. Information about confounding covariates and follow-up time are therefore essential to address the issue. This study aims to investigate the risk of new-onset cardiovascular events for patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer receiving elective surgery compared to a matched population. Material and Methods: Using a prospective cohort, we compared cardiovascular events among 876 patients treated with elective surgery for incident stage I-III colorectal cancer diagnosed between January 1st, 2001 and December 31st, 2016 to a cancer-free cohort matched by age, sex, and time since enrollment (N = 3504). Regression analyses were adjusted for lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidity. Multivariable analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with cardiovascular events in the postoperative (<90 days of elective surgery) and long-term phase (>90 days after elective surgery). Results: After a median follow-up of 3.9 years, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident heart failure was 1.53 (95% CI 1.02–2.28) among patients operated for colorectal cancer. The postoperative risk of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris was associated with the use of lipid-lowering drugs. Long-term risks of cardiovascular events were ASA-score of III+IV and lipid-lowering drugs with HRs ranging from 2.20 to 15.8. Further, the use of antihypertensive drugs was associated with an HR of 2.09 (95% CI 1.06–4.13) for angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction. Heart failure was associated with being overweight, diabetes, and anastomosis leakage. Conclusion: We observed an increased hazard of heart failure in patients operated on for stage I-III colorectal cancer compared to cancer-free comparisons. We identified several potential risk factors for cardiovascular events within and beyond 90 days of elective surgery.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Oncologica
Volume62
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)728-736
Number of pages9
ISSN0284-186X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Acta Oncologica Foundation.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • Colorectal cancer
  • late effects
  • surgery

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