Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia

Abstract Background Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience an elevated burden of health complications, underscoring the importance of understanding the patterns of multimorbidity to guide the management of survivors with complex medical needs. Methods We examined the patterns of hospitalisation...

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Main Authors: Tasnim Abdalla, Jeneva L. Ohan, Angela Ives, Daniel White, Catherine S. Choong, Max Bulsara, Jason D. Pole
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:BJC Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00114-1
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author Tasnim Abdalla
Jeneva L. Ohan
Angela Ives
Daniel White
Catherine S. Choong
Max Bulsara
Jason D. Pole
author_facet Tasnim Abdalla
Jeneva L. Ohan
Angela Ives
Daniel White
Catherine S. Choong
Max Bulsara
Jason D. Pole
author_sort Tasnim Abdalla
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience an elevated burden of health complications, underscoring the importance of understanding the patterns of multimorbidity to guide the management of survivors with complex medical needs. Methods We examined the patterns of hospitalisations with multimorbidity in 5-year CCS (n = 2938) and age- and sex-matched non-cancer comparisons (n = 24,792) using statewide records of inpatient admissions in Western Australia from 1987 to 2019. Results Multimorbidity rates were higher for CCS (10.6, 95%CI 10.2–10.9) than for non-cancer comparisons (3.2, 95%CI 3.2–3.3). CCS exhibited a significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio of multimorbidity, particularly when admitted for neoplasms (14.6, 95%CI 11.2–19.1), as well as blood (7.3, 95%CI 4.9–10.7), neurological and sensory (5.2, 95%CI 4.2–6.6), and cardiovascular (3.6, 95%CI 2.6–4.8) diseases. By the age of 55 years, chronic multimorbidity was more prevalent in survivors than in comparisons (14.5% vs. 5.3%). Psychiatric disorders were common comorbidities, particularly in those admitted for neurological and sensory (71.1%), endocrine (61.5%), and digestive (59.3%) diseases. Multimorbidity during hospitalisation increased the length of hospital stay (p < 0.05). Key condition clusters included (1) psychoactive substance  dependence, alcohol misuse, and other mental disorders; (2) hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and musculoskeletal diseases; (3) epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and other liver diseases; and (4) hypertension, kidney disease, and other liver diseases. Conclusions These findings suggest that exposure to cancer in childhood elevates the risk of multimorbidity. The reconfiguration of healthcare delivery to enhance personalised care and clinical integration is essential for effectively managing multimorbidity in this population.
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spelling doaj-art-d12dfdc020184ba896d9a03639b36d202025-08-20T02:56:12ZengNature PortfolioBJC Reports2731-93772025-03-013111110.1038/s44276-024-00114-1Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western AustraliaTasnim Abdalla0Jeneva L. Ohan1Angela Ives2Daniel White3Catherine S. Choong4Max Bulsara5Jason D. Pole6Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western AustraliaSchool of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaMedical School, The University of Western AustraliaHaematology Department, Women’s and Children’s HospitalMedical School, The University of Western AustraliaInstitute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaCentre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience an elevated burden of health complications, underscoring the importance of understanding the patterns of multimorbidity to guide the management of survivors with complex medical needs. Methods We examined the patterns of hospitalisations with multimorbidity in 5-year CCS (n = 2938) and age- and sex-matched non-cancer comparisons (n = 24,792) using statewide records of inpatient admissions in Western Australia from 1987 to 2019. Results Multimorbidity rates were higher for CCS (10.6, 95%CI 10.2–10.9) than for non-cancer comparisons (3.2, 95%CI 3.2–3.3). CCS exhibited a significantly higher adjusted hazard ratio of multimorbidity, particularly when admitted for neoplasms (14.6, 95%CI 11.2–19.1), as well as blood (7.3, 95%CI 4.9–10.7), neurological and sensory (5.2, 95%CI 4.2–6.6), and cardiovascular (3.6, 95%CI 2.6–4.8) diseases. By the age of 55 years, chronic multimorbidity was more prevalent in survivors than in comparisons (14.5% vs. 5.3%). Psychiatric disorders were common comorbidities, particularly in those admitted for neurological and sensory (71.1%), endocrine (61.5%), and digestive (59.3%) diseases. Multimorbidity during hospitalisation increased the length of hospital stay (p < 0.05). Key condition clusters included (1) psychoactive substance  dependence, alcohol misuse, and other mental disorders; (2) hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and musculoskeletal diseases; (3) epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and other liver diseases; and (4) hypertension, kidney disease, and other liver diseases. Conclusions These findings suggest that exposure to cancer in childhood elevates the risk of multimorbidity. The reconfiguration of healthcare delivery to enhance personalised care and clinical integration is essential for effectively managing multimorbidity in this population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00114-1
spellingShingle Tasnim Abdalla
Jeneva L. Ohan
Angela Ives
Daniel White
Catherine S. Choong
Max Bulsara
Jason D. Pole
Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
BJC Reports
title Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
title_full Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
title_fullStr Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
title_short Epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors: a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in Western Australia
title_sort epidemiology of multimorbidity in childhood cancer survivors a matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations in western australia
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00114-1
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