Diabetes mellitus among cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
Cancer and cancer treatments are associated with diabetes mellitus in some patients. The purpose of this review is to look at the association and potential impact of diabetes mellitus on the health profiles of a large cohort of cancer survivors.


METHODS
This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of long-term cancer survivors who reported that they have diabetes. Of 8,559 respondents to a mailed survey, 696 (8.1%) reported diabetes mellitus (DM). We analyzed the responses to discern the potential impact of demographics, cancer type, or disease treatments on glycemia as well as the potential impact of DM on socioeconomic parameters (education, family and work).


RESULTS
Survivors of gynecological cancer, chronic leukemia, or gastrointestinal cancer reported DM most frequently, although no statistical correlations could be demonstrated for DM and specific cancer types. The frequency of DM was higher among survivors than in the general U.S. population. Cancer survivors with DM were more likely to report that cancer affected their overall health (42.3 vs. 34.3%) and ability to work. They also reported more health problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes mellitus affects a minority of long-term cancer survivors and may have an impact on their physiologic and psychosocial well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
Systematic assessment for DM is suggested for all cancer survivors because DM appears to be an important co-morbidity for this growing segment of our population.
Stava
Charles J
CJ
Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 435, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Beck
Martha L
ML
Feng
Lei
L
Lopez
Adriana
A
Busaidy
Naifa
N
Vassilopoulou-Sellin
Rena
R
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology