Is Cancer Risk Affected by Heart Failure?

Heart failure (HF) likely does not raise the risk of cancer in men, despite previous research suggesting otherwise, according to a recent study.

In a study of 28,341 participants from the Physicians’ Health Studies I and II, as well as 2 randomized controlled trials of aspirin and vitamin supplements, researchers evaluated data on participants’ annual health evaluations and any diagnoses of cancer or HF.
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The potential association between HF and cancer was examined using multivariable-adjusted Cox models, with HF modeled as a time-varying exposure.

Furthermore, in a complementary analysis, the landmark method was implemented to identify participants who were free of cancer at 70 years of age and distinguish between those with and without HF. Cox regression was performed, along with sensitivity analyses at ages 65, 75, and 80 years.

Of the 28,341 participants, approximately 1420 developed HF, and 7363 cancers developed over the course of follow-up (median 19.9 years). Ultimately, the researchers observed no association between HF and cancer incidence in crude nor multivariable-adjusted analysis (hazard ratio 1.05).

Furthermore, following multivariable adjustment, no association was observed between HF and site-specific cancer incidence nor cancer-specific mortality at any age.

“HF is not associated with an increased risk of cancer among male physicians,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Selvaraj S, Bhatt DL, Claggett B, et al. Lack of association between heart failure and incident cancer. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(14). doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.01.069.