Secondary analysis of association of comorbidity in midlife with cancer outcomes

Comorbidities in midlife are common but how these conditions are associated with future risk of cancer and cancer outcomes is poorly understood. Secondary analysis of the prospective Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) screening trial included 128,999 adults aged 55 to 74 years without a history of cancer enrolled between 1993 and 2001. Participants reported their history of 12 comorbid conditions. Comorbidities in midlife were associated with risk of any cancer and more strongly associated with risk of multiple individual cancer types, with the direction of association differing across cancer types. The authors conclude that these results may inform clinical management of patients at risk for cancer.