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Abstract
Background and Objectives We aim to determine the risk of stroke and death within 30 days after stroke in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors.
Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study of patients diagnosed with NPC from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2017. Using the cancer and stroke disease registries and the Singapore general population as the reference population, we report the age-standardized incidence rate differences (SIRDs) ratios (SIRs) and the cumulative incidence of stroke and the standardized mortality rate differences (SMRDs) and ratios (SMRs) for all causes of death within 30 days after stroke for NPC survivors.
Results At a median follow-up of 48.4 months (interquartile range 19.8–92.9 months) for 3,849 patients diagnosed with NPC, 96 patients developed stroke. The overall SIRD and SIR for stroke were 3.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09–4.15) and 2.54 (95% CI 2.08–3.10), respectively. The SIRD was highest for the age group 70 to 79 years old (8.84 cases per 1,000 person-years, 95% CI 0.46–17.21), while the SIR was highest for the age group 30 to 39 years old (16.41, 95% CI 6.01–35.82). The SIRD and SIR for stage 1 disease were (6.96 cases per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 2.16–11.77) and (4.15, 95% CI 2.46–7.00), respectively. The SMRD and SMR for all cause deaths within 30 days of stroke were (3.20 cases per 100 persons, 95% CI −3.87 to 10.28) and (1.34, 95% CI 0.76–2.37), respectively.
Discussion The overall risk of stroke was markedly elevated in survivors of NPC, especially in stage 1 disease, compared to the general population. The risk of death within 30 days of stroke was not significantly higher for NPC survivors.
Classification of Evidence This study provides Class II evidence of the increased risk of stroke in survivors of NPC compared to the general population.
Glossary
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CuI=
- cumulative incidence;
- ICD-9-CM=
- International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification;
- ICD-10-AM=
- International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Australian Modification;
- IQR=
- interquartile range;
- NPC=
- nasopharyngeal cancer;
- SCR=
- Singapore Cancer Registry;
- SIR=
- standardized incidence rate ratio;
- SIRD=
- standardized incidence rate difference;
- SMR=
- standardized mortality rate ratio;
- SMRD=
- standardized mortality rate difference;
- SSR=
- Singapore Stroke Registry
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Class of Evidence: NPub.org/coe
- Received March 30, 2021.
- Accepted in final form November 2, 2021.
- © 2021 American Academy of Neurology
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