Cardiovascular disease incidence rates: a study using routinely collected health data

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Systemic anticancer therapies and radiotherapy are known to elevate long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• Optimal cancer treatment decisions require balancing treatment benefits against potential CVD risks.
• CVD risk magnitude is influenced by general population incidence rates, varying by age and sex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide population-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence rates for England.
• To support cardio-oncology, clinical practice, research, and health policy.
• To enable estimation of absolute CVD risks associated with cancer treatments.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort of 2,633,472 individuals was studied.
• Data linkage between primary care and admitted-patient care records in England (2010-2015).
• Identified five key CVD categories (four heart disease, one stroke) potentially increased by cancer treatments.

Main Results:

• Calculated age- and sex-specific incidence rates for combined and individual CVD categories.
• Provided incidence rates for all 38 available individual CVDs.
• Demonstrated application in estimating absolute CVD risks for Hodgkin lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Population-based CVD incidence rates are now available for diverse applications.
• Facilitates estimation of absolute CVD risks from cancer treatments.
• Aids patients and clinicians in making informed, individualized cancer treatment decisions.