Interaction between co-morbidities and cancer survival

Excerpt

Comorbidities, for example, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, commonly co-occur in patients with cancer. For example, in the EPIC-Heidelberg Study [1], the prevalence of multi-morbidity (≥ 2 concurrent chronic diseases) was present in up to two-thirds of individuals aged 50 to 75 years. There is a large volume of evidence that, not unsurprisingly, the presence of a co-morbidity prognosticates for worse survival. In turn, this invites cancer health professionals to explore opportunities to intervene to lessen the risks of comorbidity-associated mortalities among cancer survivors. These patients have regular healthcare contact and are often well-motivated, with opportunities to exploit teachable moments. By example, the American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Survivorship Care Guidelines [2] recommend that patients are informed of the adverse effects of obesity on CVD risk. …