Association of baseline hypertension and hyperlipidemia with the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer: A single institution experience.
Authors: Jafry Baqir , Buhaya Munir , Milsap Allante , Verma Nilesh , Jones Amy Little , Kainthla Radhika , Al Mutar Salwan , Abunafeesa Hussna , Brown Timothy J , Huang Emina , Kazmi Syed Mohammad Ali 
Published: June 2024

e15522

Background: Hypertension (HTN) and hyperlipidemia (HLD) are widely prevalent diseases, but their effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes is limited. We aimed to study the effects of baseline HTN and HLD on CRC survival. Methods: We identified patients with stage 1-4 colorectal cancer diagnosed between 2011 and 2017 from tumor registry of a large safety-net hospital and NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients with a diagnosis of HTN (ICD-9/10: I10, 401.9) and HLD (ICD 9/10: E78.0-E78.5, 272.0-272.4) at CRC diagnosis were compared with patients who did not have these comorbidities. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical differences between groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with HTN and HLD. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model with an index date of tumor diagnosis until death. Patients who did not meet endpoint of interest were censored at the date of last clinical contact. Results: We identified 1,921 patients - 627 (33%) had HTN, 403 (21%) had HLD and 309 (16%) had HTN and HLD. The median age of diagnosis of CRC was 61 (IQR: 54-68) for HTN patients and 61 (IQR: 53-69) for HLD patients. Compared to patients without HTN or HLD, patients with HTN or HLD were more likely to be non-Hispanic Blacks (HTN: 39% vs 19%; HLD: 30% vs 24%), uninsured (HTN: 33% vs 17%; HLD: 36% vs 18%) and treated at safety-net hospital (HTN: 53% vs 24%; HLD: 55% vs 27%). These patients had a higher prevalence of other comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (HTN: 39% vs 7%; HLD: 50% vs 9%), anxiety (HTN:12% vs 3%; HLD: 14% vs 4%), and tobacco use (HTN: 16% vs 5%; HLD: 14% vs 7%). On multivariable analysis, HTN and HLD patients were older (HTN-OR: 1.05, 95CI: 1.04-1.06; HLD-OR: 1.03, 95CI: 1.02-1.05), had concurrent diabetes mellitus (HTN-OR: 4.2, 95CI: 2.9-6.3; HLD-OR: 4.5, 95CI: 3.2 - 6.4), depression (HTN-OR: 2.0, 95CI: 1.3-3.2; HLD-OR: 1.9, 95CI: 1.2-3.0), and cirrhosis (HTN-OR: 2.6, 95CI: 1.3-5.2; HLD-OR: 2.1, 95CI: 1.1-3.9) and treated at safety-net hospital (HTN-OR: 2.7, 95CI: 1.7-4.3; HLD-OR: 1.4, 95CI: 0.9-2.2). Compared to patients without HTN or HLD, OS was improved for HLD alone patients (HR: 0.58; 95CI: 0.38-0.89; P: 0.01), while it was not different for patients with HTN without HLD (HR: 0.99; 95CI: 0.81-1.2; P: 0.55) or HTN and HLD (HR: 0.92; 95CI: 0.75-1.13; P: 0.34). The 5-year yr OS for these groups were 65%, 77%, 66%, and 69% respectively. Conclusions: In this single institution cohort that includes a safety-net hospital, the prevalence of HTN or HLD at CRC diagnosis was higher among older and non-Hispanic Black CRC patients and associated with coexisting diabetes mellitus, anxiety, and tobacco use. CRC patients with HLD alone had a significantly better 5-yr OS compared to those without HTN or HLD, with HTN alone, and with HTN and HLD.