Risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with gastric cancer

TL;DR

Gastric cancer patients have a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than the general population, especially in younger patients and shortly after diagnosis.

Contribution

This study quantifies the elevated cardiovascular mortality risk in gastric cancer patients using a large population-based cohort.

Findings

Gastric cancer patients had a 46% higher cardiovascular mortality risk than the general population.

The risk was highest in patients aged 30–39 years, with a 669% increased mortality risk.

Cardiovascular mortality risk peaked in the first month after cancer diagnosis.

Abstract

To assess the excess cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in patients with gastric cancer (GC) compared with the general population.

Using data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, we conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 41,083 GC patients ≥30 years old between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2021. A reference cohort from the corresponding general population was also included. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for CVD mortality were estimated using Poisson regression.

GC patients were associated with a higher risk of CVD mortality relative to the general population (IRR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.40–1.52). The relative risk was highest among younger patients aged 30–39 years (IRR: 7.69; 95% CI: 2.48–23.86). Cardiovascular mortality risk peaked during the first month after cancer diagnosis (IRR: 11.52; 95% CI: 9.97–13.31). The relationship between GC and CVD mortality varied according to demographic and clinical characteristics.

These population-based findings support early cardiac assessment and comprehensive risk stratification in GC care. Prospective studies with richer confounder data are needed to test whether these strategies improve outcomes.

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