Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors, quality of life, and health behaviors of cancer survivors and their spouses: findings from MEPS

Purpose: Few population-based studies have examined the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors, quality of life (QOL), and health behaviors of cancer survivors and their spouses. This case-control study aimed to fill this gap using the data from a set of large-scale surveys of individuals and families across the USA. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2010–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Using one-to-many (1:5) propensity score matching, we identified cancer survivors (N = 1037) and noncancer-matched controls (N = 5185), as well as survivor spouses (N = 1038) and matched controls (N = 5190). We used weighted multivariable logistic and linear regressions to examine the categorical and numerical outcomes. Results: Compared with noncancer controls, survivors have higher rates of stroke (p <.05), hypertension (p <.05), high cholesterol (p <.01), fair or poor health (p <.0001), and report self-reported worse physical QOL scores (PCS) (p <.0001). A higher percentage of survivors report receiving BP checks (p <.01), serum cholesterol assessments (p <.001), routine physical checkups (p <.01), blood stool tests (p <.05), colonoscopies (p <.0001), and flu vaccinations (p <.05). Survivor spouses, compared to their respective matched controls, reported higher rates of serum cholesterol testing (p <.001), routine physical checkups (p <.01), and flu vaccinations (p <.01). Conclusions: Compared to the general population, cancer survivors are at higher risk for CVD, report worse physical QOL, and, along with their spouses, more frequently receive certain preventive health care services. Implications for Cancer Survivors: There is a need for intervention to more fully engage cancer survivors and spouses in lifestyle behavior change associated with decreased CVD and related risk factors and improved QOL.