Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Colorectal Cancer Patients at Diagnosis
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Published on: September 27, 2024
María Romero-Elías1, Alejandro Álvarez-Bustos2, Lourdes Gutierrez3
1Institute of Health Research Puerta de Hierro- Segovia de Arana, IDIPHISA, IDIPHISA, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Few colorectal cancer (CRC) patients meet ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) goals at diagnosis. Improving diet, body composition, and smoking cessation are crucial for CRC patients
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are leading causes of mortality in Western societies.
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors have a high risk of CVD, the primary cause of death.
- Ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) is defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 metrics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) status of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at the time of diagnosis.
- To identify prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behaviors among CRC patients.
- To highlight the importance of cardiovascular health assessment during cancer diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 238 Spanish colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.
- Assessment of physical activity via accelerometers, diet via Mediterranean diet adherence, and anthropometry via Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Collection of data on hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking from clinical records.
Main Results:
- Only 4.3% of CRC patients met all 7 iCVH components.
- Non-smoking (89.5%) was the most common healthy behavior, while BMI < 25 was the least common (39.1%).
- Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor, affecting 62% of patients.
Conclusions:
- There is significant potential to reduce smoking rates among CRC patients.
- Interventions promoting healthy diets and body composition are necessary during and after CRC treatment.
- Assessing iCVH at diagnosis serves as a critical 'teachable moment' to improve cardiovascular health and patient outcomes.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are the leading causes of chronic illness and mortality in Western societies. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer and shares some risk factors with CVD, which is the major cause of mortality in CRC survivors. The American Heart Association recommends Life's Simple 7 to define and measure ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH). This study aimed to detail the iCVH in CRC patients at diagnosis.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study of a cohort of Spanish patients with CRC describes health and behavioral factors at diagnosis. Physical activity was monitored using accelerometers; Diet was assessed through adherence to Mediterranean diet, and anthropometry was assessed by the body mass index (BMI). Hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking were collected from clinical records.
Results:
Two hundred thirty-eight CRC patients participated (66.4% male, 64.7 years mean age), 153 (64.3%) had localized disease, and 85 (35.7%) had metastatic disease. 10% had a history of CVD. 10 patients (4.3%) met 7 components of iCVH. Non-smoking (89.5%) was the most prevalent healthy behaviour, whereas BMI < 25 was the least (39.1%). Hypertension (62%) was the most common risk factor.
Conclusions:
There is still some room for decreasing the habit of smoking. Initiatives for keeping a healthy diet and body composition are needed during and after the treatment.
Implications For Practice:
Assessing iCVH at diagnosis, which is considered a teachable moment, would raise awareness among health practitioners and patients about the importance of cardiovascular health along CRC trajectory and about behaviours that can be improved and impact on both cardiovascular and cancer outcomes.
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