New study shows recently diagnosed adult cancer survivors at higher risk for bone fractures

Grownup most cancers survivors, significantly these identified inside 5 years and/or have a historical past of chemotherapy, have an elevated danger for bone fractures, particularly pelvic and vertebral fractures, in comparison with older adults with out most cancers, based on a brand new massive examine by researchers on the American Most cancers Society (ACS).

Additionally, survivors who have been bodily energetic tended to have a decrease danger of bone breakage, and survivors who smoked have been related to the next danger. The findings have been printed in JAMA Oncology.

“These findings are essential because the variety of most cancers survivors residing in the US is projected to rise to 26.1 million by 2040. Analysis like this seeks methods for most cancers survivors to have a greater high quality of life after their prognosis,” stated Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, senior principal scientist, behavioral and epidemiology analysis on the American Most cancers Society and lead writer of the examine. “Fractures of the pelvis and vertebrae are extra than simply damaged bones—they’re severe and expensive.”

Researchers analyzed information from contributors of the Most cancers Prevention Research-II Diet Cohort linked to Medicare claims from 1997-2017. They investigated the associations between most cancers diagnoses, together with time since and stage at prognosis, and danger of pelvic, radial, and vertebral fractures (individually and mixed) in comparison with adults and not using a historical past of most cancers. Secondarily, they examined variations within the danger of fracture stratified by modifiable behaviors, therapy, and most cancers kind.

The outcomes confirmed among the many 92,431 contributors included within the examine, 12,943 skilled a frailty-related bone fracture. In comparison with contributors and not using a historical past of most cancers, most cancers survivors who have been extra just lately identified inside 5 years with a complicated stage most cancers had the best danger of fracture.

The upper fracture danger in most cancers survivors was pushed largely by vertebral and pelvic fracture websites. In comparison with most cancers survivors who didn’t obtain chemotherapy, survivors who obtained chemotherapy have been extra prone to have a fracture; this affiliation was stronger inside 5 years of prognosis, however nonetheless suggestive 5 years after prognosis. The examine additionally confirmed that bodily exercise could also be related to decrease danger and present smoking was related to the next danger of fracture amongst most cancers survivors 5 or extra years post-diagnosis.

“We hope our findings will inform scientific steering on fracture prevention, which might incorporate bodily exercise with train most cancers professionals and smoking cessation packages, to enhance high quality of life after a most cancers prognosis,” added Rees-Punia.