impacts of lifestyle risk of developing metabolic syndrome in children surviving cancer of -
A study of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that 73 percent of adult survivors of childhood cancer have more than doubled their risk of developing metabolic syndrome and related health problems by failing to follow a healthy lifestyle for the heart. The findings appear in the current issue of Cancer .
Nearly 32 percent of childhood cancer survivors 1,598 adults in the study had metabolic syndrome, a term for the risk factors for health such as blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglycerides and other abnormalities that often occur together. The prevalence was similar to rates reported for older adults in the general public. The metabolic syndrome is associated with a greater probability of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other life-threatening health problems.
The researchers reported that adult survivors of childhood cancer who have failed to adopt a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a healthy diet were twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome than survivors did. The risk was 2.4 times higher among women and 2.2 times higher in men.
Lifestyle has had a greater impact on the probability of developing metabolic syndrome as risk factors associated with treatment of childhood cancer, including cranial irradiation.
"This is good news for the growing population of the nation of adult survivors of childhood cancer," said corresponding author Kirsten Ness, Ph.D., associate member of the St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and the fight against cancer. "This suggests that if you maintain a healthy lifestyle by staying active and a low-fat diet, sugar and salt and high in fruits and vegetables, you should be able to influence whether or not you develop the syndrome metabolic. "
the United States is home to more than 360,000 survivors of childhood cancer. now with childhood rates of cancer survival better than 80 percent, should the surviving population to grow. previous research St. Jude and others have found that many survivors face significant challenges, including chronic health problems, and may be at risk of premature aging. the survivors whose cancer treatment included chest and cranial irradiation or chemotherapy with anthracylcine are known to be at increased risk of cardiomyopathy or metabolic syndrome. a previous study led St. Jude found that lifestyle habits and risk factors related to cancer treatment were particularly toxic mix for aging survivors of childhood cancer.
This study was the largest yet to assess how the impact of lifestyle, the risk of metabolic disorders syndrome in a diversified group of survivors of childhood cancer. Participants were recruited from St. Jude life Cohort Study (St. Jude LIFE), which brings together childhood cancer survivors treated at St. Jude in the hospital for several days for health screenings and other tests. Participants were at least 18 years and 10 years of their diagnosis. The survivors of this study were aged 19 to 60 years. Half were under 33 years. Previous studies of the metabolic syndrome in survivors of childhood cancer have focused on survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but this study included survivors of various cancers, including lymphoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma, brain and other tumors.
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in survivors, 22 percent of them were over 40 years was 31.5 percent. This was larger than the rates reported in small studies of young survivors of childhood cancer, but comparable to 34 percent reported in the general population, 68 percent of them were older than 40.
health screenings and survivor self-reports found that 27 percent of study participants met at least four of the seven requirements for a healthy living as defined by the / American Institute World Cancer Research Fund for Cancer Research. The list included the maintenance of a healthy weight, moderate alcohol consumption and red meat, physical activity and a diet low in sodium and high in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. About two-thirds of survivors in this study were overweight or obese, three quarters reported eating fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and more than half reported lack of exercise or complex carbohydrates. In addition, 0 percent reported eating too much red meat and almost 70 percent too much sodium.
healthier habits are proven to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in the general public. St. Jude provides interventions to determine whether the same is true for survivors of childhood cancer and to help survivors of all ages to make changes to improve their long term health.
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