Prevalence and management of hypertension in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Improvements in cancer survival rates have drawn attention to the long-term cardiovascular health of childhood and adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Hypertension is a key modifiable risk factor contributing to elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population. However, its prevalence and persistence remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for studies on childhood and AYA cancer survivors who had completed treatment. Hypertension prevalence was pooled using a random-effects model, with subgroup analyses conducted by cancer types and follow-up duration. Meta-regression analysis assessed trends in hypertension prevalence over time. A total of 91 studies involving 86,132 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of hypertension was 20.35% (95% CI, 17.90-22.80). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant time-dependent increase in hypertension prevalence: 16.60% within 10 years, 17.48% at 10-20 years, and 32.12% after 20 years (P = 0.04). Survivors of kidney tumors (24.80%) exhibited a trend toward higher hypertension prevalence compared to other cancer types. Meta-regression analysis confirmed that hypertension prevalence started increasing in the early post-treatment phase and remained significantly elevated over time, emphasizing the progressive and sustained cardiovascular risk in this population. Childhood and AYA cancer survivors face substantial and persistent risks of hypertension, underscoring the need for early detection and long-term management strategies. Enhanced survivorship care tailored to this population is essential to reduce cardiovascular risks and improve life expectancy globally.

Duke Scholars

Author Yuichiro Yano Family Medicine and Community Health