Ageing-related diseases occur early among childhood cancer survivors

Survivors of childhood cancer undergo accelerated ageing, with a recent study showing a 2-decade earlier onset and a greater lifetime risk of common and life-threatening chronic health conditions (CHCs).

Using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and national databases, researchers performed a simulation modelling study to estimate the lifetime risks of eight treatment-related cancers and cardiovascular conditions among childhood cancer survivors vs the general population.

For 5-year survivors of childhood cancer, 20 percent had already developed at least one health condition by age 47.3 years—an event not reached by 20 percent of the general population until age 65.0 years. This translated to a 17.7-year acceleration in disease onset.

By age 65 years, 55 percent of survivors were projected to develop at least one condition, representing a 2.7-fold (95 percent uncertainty interval [UI], 2.2–3.5) higher relative risk and 34.2-percent (95 percent UI, 28.3–42.5) absolute excess risk relative to the general population.

The risks were especially pronounced among survivors who underwent radiation therapy for childhood cancer (22.0 years earlier onset; 37.3 percent excess risk) but were still increased among those without radiation exposure (13.5 years earlier onset; 31.0 percent excess risk).

Survivors continued to face increased health risks even upon reaching middle age. Compared with the general population, survivors who reached age 40 years had a 6.2-fold greater risk (95 percent UI, 4.8–9.4) of developing a new condition within 10 years.

The findings indicate that cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention should be prioritized for survivors decades earlier than for the general population.