CANCER survivors face a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, according to a major nationwide study in Japan that highlights key differences in cardiovascular risk across cancer types and specific heart-related diseases.
Using data from nearly 4 million cancer patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2019, researchers conducted a population-based cohort study leveraging Japan’s National Cancer Registry. The analysis, encompassing more than six million person-years of follow-up, revealed that individuals with cancer had a 2.39-fold higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to the general population.
Strikingly, patients with nonlymphoid hematologic malignancies experienced the highest cardiovascular mortality with a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 4.32. When broken down by specific cardiovascular conditions, this group faced SMRs of 3.15 for ischemic heart disease and a remarkable 7.65 for heart failure.
Risk varied substantially by cancer type and cardiovascular disease. Patients with laryngeal cancer had the highest SMR for aortic dissection at 3.31, those with pancreatic cancer showed the highest SMR for ischemic stroke at 5.39, and individuals with liver cancer had the highest SMR for hemorrhagic stroke at 3.75.
These findings underscore the importance of cardiovascular surveillance and prevention strategies tailored to cancer survivors, especially those with hematologic or pancreatic malignancies. As oncologic therapies continue to improve survival, managing long-term cardiovascular outcomes is becoming an essential aspect of post-cancer care.
This study serves as a call to action for clinicians in oncology and cardiology alike to proactively monitor and mitigate cardiovascular risks in cancer survivors, with a data-driven focus on those most vulnerable to specific forms of cardiovascular disease.
Reference:
Gon Y (et al). Specific Cardiovascular Mortality in Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Japan. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 May 15:e037965.
