Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of suffering prematurely from cardiovascular disease in adulthood, says a new study.
The researchers say it is the first study to investigate the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors by systematic and comprehensive clinical evaluation of their health in comparison to the general population.
The researchers in Germany found that as adults these people were at increased risk of having high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia.
These conditions occurred six and eight years earlier, respectively, when compared with the general population.
In addition, childhood cancer survivors had a nearly two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as congestive heart failure and venous thromboembolism.
The study was based on 951 adult long-term survivors of childhood cancer.