Increased Risks of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Among Spousal Caregivers of Cancer Patients.
Författare
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: Spousal caregivers of cancer patients suffer psychological and physical burdens, which may affect their risk of subsequently developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Cancer patients were identified in the Swedish Cancer Registry, and information on their spouses was retrieved from the Swedish Multi-Generation Register. Follow-up of caregivers was carried out from the date of the first diagnosis of cancer in their spouses through 2008. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for spousal caregivers of cancer patients compared to those without an affected spouse. After the cancer diagnosis in wives, the risks of CHD, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in husbands were 1.13 (95% CI 1.10-1.16), 1.24 (95%CI 1.21-1.27) and 1.25 (95%CI 1.18-1.32), respectively. The corresponding risks in wives with an affected husband were 1.13 (95% CI 1.10-1.16), 1.29 (95%CI 1.26-1.32) and 1.27 (95%CI 1.19-1.34). The increases were consistent over time, and were more pronounced if the spouse was affected by cancer with high mortality rates, such as pancreatic and lung cancers.
CONCLUSIONS: Spousal caregivers of cancer patients have increased risks of CHD and stroke that persists over time. Clinical attention should be paid to spousal caregivers, especially those caring for cancer patients with high mortality rates.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Cancer patients were identified in the Swedish Cancer Registry, and information on their spouses was retrieved from the Swedish Multi-Generation Register. Follow-up of caregivers was carried out from the date of the first diagnosis of cancer in their spouses through 2008. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for spousal caregivers of cancer patients compared to those without an affected spouse. After the cancer diagnosis in wives, the risks of CHD, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in husbands were 1.13 (95% CI 1.10-1.16), 1.24 (95%CI 1.21-1.27) and 1.25 (95%CI 1.18-1.32), respectively. The corresponding risks in wives with an affected husband were 1.13 (95% CI 1.10-1.16), 1.29 (95%CI 1.26-1.32) and 1.27 (95%CI 1.19-1.34). The increases were consistent over time, and were more pronounced if the spouse was affected by cancer with high mortality rates, such as pancreatic and lung cancers.
CONCLUSIONS: Spousal caregivers of cancer patients have increased risks of CHD and stroke that persists over time. Clinical attention should be paid to spousal caregivers, especially those caring for cancer patients with high mortality rates.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2012
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
1742-1747
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Circulation
Volym
125
Issue
14
Länkar
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Ämne
- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology
- Family Medicine, Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Lifestyle
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1524-4539