To examine the prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among female breast cancer (BC) survivors using data from the National Health Interview Survey, highlighting the significance of these findings in the context of existing literature.
Key Findings:
CVD prevalence was highest among women surviving BC for 10 years or more, indicating a need for long-term monitoring.
Factors significantly associated with CVD included being unmarried, delayed medical care, hypertension, smoking history, poor general health, and older age, suggesting areas for targeted interventions.
CVD risk increases over time for BC survivors, necessitating lifelong screening and tailored health management strategies.
Interpretation:
Preventive behaviors and management of comorbidities are essential for reducing CVD risk in BC survivors, highlighting the need for ongoing CVD screening beyond the initial treatment period, particularly considering social determinants of health.
Limitations:
The study is observational and may not establish causation, which limits the ability to infer direct relationships.
Data relies on self-reported health status, which may introduce bias and affect the accuracy of the findings.
Conclusion:
CVD screening should be risk-stratified and continued throughout the survivorship of BC patients, emphasizing a holistic approach to health management and addressing disparities in CVD risk among different demographic groups.
