Park J, et al. - Researchers investigated whether there was a relationship between potential risk factors, treatment effects, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors. Data revealed that examining the impact of thyroid cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, and demographic characteristics on the risk of CVD was critical.

Methods

• Using the statewide Utah Population Database, primary thyroid cancer survivors diagnosed from 1997 to 2012 (n=3,822), were identified.
• Researchers used the medical records to ascertain information on risk factors and CVD outcomes.
• In order to assess the risk of CVD with baseline demographic data and clinical factors, Cox proportional hazards models were used.

Results

• The study results showed that age and year at cancer diagnosis, cancer stage, sex, baseline body mass index, baseline comorbidities, and TSH suppression therapy were significantly linked to CVD risk 1 to 5 years after cancer diagnosis among thyroid cancer survivors.
• Compared with patients who were female, had a normal body mass index, were younger at cancer diagnosis, and diagnosed with cancer from 1997 to 1999, patients who were male, overweight or obese, older at cancer diagnosis, and diagnosed with cancer since 2005 had an increased risk of CVD.
• Among thyroid cancer survivors, administration of TSH suppression therapy, distant metastases at cancer diagnosis, and a higher Charlson comorbidity index score were correlated with an increased CVD risk.