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Psychological Illness, CVD Risk Increased for Relatives, Spouses of Cancer Patients

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 9, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Sept. 9, 2024 -- Cancer diagnosis is associated with an increased risk for psychological illness and cardiovascular disease among first-degree relatives and spouses of patients, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Cancer.

Using data from the Utah Population Database, Mouneeb M. Choudry, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort analysis to examine the risk for psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first‐degree relatives and spouses of patients diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer between 1990 and 2015 compared to relatives of those without a genitourinary cancer.

A total of 49,284 patients with a genitourinary cancer were identified, with 77,938 first-degree relatives and spouses; 246,775 patients with 81,022 first‐degree relatives and spouses were included in the matched control group. The researchers found that at one year after a family member's cancer diagnosis, there was an increased risk for developing psychological illness and cardiovascular disease (hazard ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 1.10 [1.00 to 1.20] and 1.28 [1.17 to 1.41], respectively).

"As health care professionals, we should take a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the stress of a cancer diagnosis by helping mitigate financial toxicity, treatment burden, and emotional impact on both the patient and their family," Choudry said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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