Men with heart disease face higher cancer risks, study finds

A decades-long study conducted by researchers at the University of Aberdeen and Keele University has found that men with cardiovascular disease (CVD) face a significantly higher risk of developing and dying from cancer compared to women and those without heart disease.

Analyzing data from over 22,000 participants in the EPIC-Norfolk study over 25 years, researchers found the lifetime cancer risk for men with CVD was 17.3%, compared to 12.8% for women with CVD. For those without cardiovascular disease, the risk was 10.2% for men and 8.2% for women.

Researchers identified smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption as the primary drivers behind these increased cancer cases in men. The link was most pronounced in lung and oesophageal cancers, though higher rates were also observed in gastric, bowel, and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Dr. Tiberiu Pana, a cardiology specialist at NHS Grampian, noted that while the relationship between heart disease and cancer was previously known, this long-term study allowed for a more thorough examination of the gender differences and specific cancer types involved.