Who are the cancer survivors? A nationwide study in Denmark, 1943-2010.

Hovaldt, HB; Suppli, NP; Olsen, MH; Steding-Jessen, M; Hansen, DG; Møller, H; Johansen, C; Dalton, SO; (2015) Who are the cancer survivors? A nationwide study in Denmark, 1943-2010. British journal of cancer, 112 (9). pp. 1549-1553. ISSN 0007-0920 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2015.68

Abstract

BACKGROUND: No nationwide studies on social position and prevalence of comorbidity among cancer survivors exist. METHODS: We performed a nationwide prevalence study defining persons diagnosed with cancer 1943-2010 and alive on the census date 1 January 2011 as cancer survivors. Comorbidity was compared by social position with the non-cancer population. RESULTS: Cancer survivors composed 4% of the Danish population. Somatic comorbidity was more likely among survivors (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.57-1.60) and associated with higher age, male sex, short education, and living alone among survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Among cancer survivors, comorbidity is common and highly associated with social position.