Access : Evaluation of prevalent and incident ovarian cancer co-morbidity : British Journal of Cancer
British Journal of Cancer , (1 May 2012) | doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.164
Evaluation of prevalent and incident ovarian cancer co-morbidity
Abstract
Background:
The
peak in incidence of ovarian cancer occurs around 65 years and
concurrent increasing risk by age for a number of diseases strongly
influence treatment and prognosis. The aim was to explore prevalence and
incidence of co-morbidity in ovarian cancer patients compared with the
general population.
Methods:
The study population was patients with ovarian cancer in Sweden 1993–2006 (n=11 139) and five controls per case (n=55 687).
Co-morbidity from 1987 to 2006 was obtained from the Swedish Patient
Register. Prevalent data were analysed with logistic regression and
incident data with Cox proportional hazards models.
Results:
Women
developing ovarian cancer did not have higher overall morbidity than
other women earlier than 3 months preceding cancer diagnosis. However,
at time of diagnosis 11 of 13 prevalent diagnosis groups were more
common among ovarian cancer patients compared with controls. The
incidence of many common diagnoses was increased several years following
the ovarian cancer and the most common diagnoses during the follow-up
period were thromboembolism, haematologic and gastrointestinal
complications.
Conclusion:
Women
developing ovarian cancer do not have higher overall morbidity the
years preceding cancer diagnosis. The incidence of many common diagnoses
was increased several years following the ovarian cancer. It is crucial
to consider time between co-morbidity and cancer diagnosis to
understand and interpret associations.
