Racial and rural-urban disparities in cardiovascular risk factors among patients with head and neck cancer in a clinical cohort.

Background: Evidence on distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is limited. We assessed disparities in prevalence and incidence of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC.

Methods: Electronic health records (EHR) data on 2262 patients with HNSCC diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 at a NCI-designated cancer center were included. Prevalence of CVD risk factors at baseline and incidence at 1-year post HNSCC diagnosis were assessed using logistic and robust Poisson regression, respectively.

Results: At baseline, 31.72% white patients with HNSCC had dyslipidemia, compared to 24.29% blacks (p < 0.008); diabetes was more prevalent in blacks (p < 0.027). Odds of ≥1 prevalent CVD clinical risk factor at baseline was lower in blacks (OR, 95%CI: 0.71, 0.54-0.93) and in rural patients (OR, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.58-0.85). At 1 year, risk of incident diabetes was higher in rural patients (RR, 95%CI: 1.63, 1.21-2.19).

Conclusions: Demographic disparities were observed in distribution of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC.