Causes of Death Following Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis: An Analysis of 15 Years of Follow-Up

Abstract

Background: Although endometrial cancer (EC) has adverse effect on the survivors’ quality of life, risks of death from non-cancer causes in EC survivors remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to identify the change in risk for specific causes of death after EC diagnosis, when compared with the risk in the general population. Methods: Data was obtained from the SEER database between 2000 and 2015. Standardized mortality ratios for various causes of death were subsequently calculated in comparison with the US general population. Results: A total of 44,485 (29.0%) EC patients were recorded as having died during follow-up from 2000–2015. The number of EC-specific deaths decreased as time passed, while the risk of death due to non-cancer causes increased yearly. Compared with the general US population, EC survivors displayed a dramatically higher risk of death due to heart disease within one year of diagnosis (SMR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.47–1.70]), as well as after more than 10 years (SMR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.07–1.22]). The risk of death from cerebrovascular disease among EC survivors was also increased, with a SMR equal to 1.35 (95% CI [1.16–1.56]) within one year, and 1.15 (95% CI [1.01–1.30]) ten years after diagnosis. Additionally, results also showed that women with EC are at increased risk of death from diabetes, in all surveyed time periods, following their cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: Although EC accounted for the most common cause of death during follow-up, causes other than cancer contributed to a great number of deaths among EC survivors. Our findings may assist clinicians in counseling EC survivor regarding to future health risks during long-term follow-up.