| Title: | Frailty and risk of common chronic diseases among cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study |
| Journal: | Journal of Cancer Survivorship |
| Published: | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42850428/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02118-x |
Publication 21573
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Abstract
PurposeWe examined the impact of baseline frailty on the incidence of diverse chronic diseases among cancer survivors.MethodsWe analyzed 21,577 cancer survivors (aged 39-70) from the UK Biobank, excluding those with baseline diseases of interest. Baseline frailty was assessed using the frailty phenotype (range, 0-5) and the frailty index (range, 0-1). Incident cases across 39 chronic diseases were identified via hospital and death records. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs.ResultsFrailty was significantly associated with an increased risk of multiple chronic diseases among cancer survivors, with the most pronounced overall effect observed for mental and neurological disorders. Overall, frailty increased the incidence of 28 out of 39 chronic diseases, encompassing all 8 cardiometabolic diseases, 5 of 10 mental/neurological diseases, 5 of 6 digestive system diseases, and 10 of 15 other conditions. Within these categories, the frailty index showed the greatest impact on heart failure (HR, 1.48 [1.36-1.61]); depression (HR, 2.39 [2.19-2.62]); irritable bowel syndrome (HR, 1.79 [1.54-2.08]); and bronchiectasis (HR, 2.11 [1.84-2.41]). Stratified analyses revealed that the association between frailty and risk of anxiety and depression was stronger in cancer survivors aged < 60 years, while prostate cancer survivors exhibited a significantly higher risk for bronchiectasis and diverticular disease. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of the results.ConclusionFrailty was prospectively associated with an increased risk of diverse chronic diseases in cancer survivors.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsRoutine assessment of frailty may help identify survivors who need targeted interventions and proactive clinical monitoring to prevent long-term comorbidities and enhance quality of life.</p>
12 Authors
- Wenqian Li
- Zenghui Zhang
- Can Lu
- Yinuo Xu
- Shaojie Han
- Yufei Zhan
- Guo Ge
- Ziwen Wang
- Xianwu Lan
- Xiaoshen Zhang
- Hua Lu
- Jun Guo
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 300908 | Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the UK Biobank cohort |
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