Increased Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease and Hypertension Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

Recent research indicates that individuals who have survived childhood cancer are at a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension. This study was published in JAMA Network Open and highlights the long-term health implications for childhood cancer survivors.

A team of researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto conducted a population-based matched cohort study to explore the relationship between childhood cancer treatments and the subsequent development of CKD or hypertension. The study focused on a group of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who were compared against two control cohorts: one consisting of children who had been hospitalized for various reasons and the other representing a general pediatric population.

The study included data from 10,182 CCS matched with 40,728 patients from the hospitalization cohort as well as 8,849 CCS matched with 35,307 participants from the general pediatric cohort. The most prevalent cancer types among the survivors were leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and lymphoma, accounting for 29.0%, 20.9%, and 15.5% of cases, respectively.

Findings revealed that the cumulative incidence of CKD or hypertension was 20.85% in the childhood cancer survivors compared to 16.47% in the hospitalization cohort and 19.24% versus 8.05% when compared to the general pediatric cohort. The adjusted hazard ratios indicated that CCS had a significantly higher risk of developing CKD and hypertension, at 2.00 and 4.71, respectively, when compared to both control groups.

The researchers emphasized the importance of implementing more specific and action-oriented surveillance guidelines for childhood cancer survivors. Collaboration between kidney health and cancer organizations is crucial to mitigate the morbidity and mortality associated with CKD and hypertension in this vulnerable population.

This study underscores the necessity for ongoing monitoring and targeted health interventions for childhood cancer survivors to improve their long-term health outcomes.