A Scoping Review Exploring Cardiovascular Risk and Health Metrics and Cancer Prediction

Authors

• JE Kim
• GH Santos
• SJ Kumar
• AA Livinski
• JB Vo
• F Zhu
• J Joo
• JJ Shearer
• M Hashemian
• VL Roger

Abstract

Introduction
Since cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer share risk factors, CVD risk scores and cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics could also be used to predict cancer. This study aims to examine the relationship between established CVD risk scores and CVH metrics and the incidence of cancer.
Methods
In February 2024, the four databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) were assessed by two reviewers for the inclusion criteria (prospective observational studies, adults aged ≥18 years, reported incidence cancer, and used at least one CVD risk score or CVH metric). A third reviewer resolved conflicts.
Results
Of the 4,165 records, 13 studies (reporting 14 CVD or CVH metrics) were included. Four studies evaluated CVD risk scores (ASCVD, Framingham Risk Score, Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation), and 10 reported CVH metrics (American Heart Association [AHA] Life’s Simple 7, AHA Life’s Essential 8). The majority of studies included all cancer types (71.4%). Studies utilizing CVD risk scores consistently reported that individuals with a higher CVD risk, developed any type of cancer, with hazard ratios (HRs) ranging from 1.02 to 3.71, and studies employing CVH metrics generally indicated an ideal CVH is associated with a lower cancer risk, with HRs ranging from 0.49 to 0.95.
Conclusion
Despite heterogeneity in CVD risk metrics and cancer subtypes, most studies reported that higher CVD risk scores or worse CVH metrics may increase future cancer risk. More rigorous studies are needed focusing on specific CVD risk metrics and cancer types of cancer to produce evidence suitable for a meta-analysis.

Scientific Focus Area: Epidemiology

This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 6, 2024