Prevalence, Awareness, Control, and Treatment of Hypertension and Diabetes in Korean Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Management of hypertension and diabetes in cancer survivors is an important issue; however,not much is known about the level of management of such chronic disease in Korea. This study therefore assessedthe prevalence, awareness, control, and treatment of hypertension and diabetes in Korean cancer survivorscompared to non-cancer survivors. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional design was employed, whereindata were obtained from standardized questionnaires completed by 943 cancer survivors and 41,233 non-cancersurvivors who participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys(2007-2011). We calculated adjusted proportions for prevalence and management of hypertension and diabetesin non-cancer survivors and cancer survivors. We also assessed the associated factors with prevalence andmanagement of cancer survivors. <br/><b>Results</b>: Cancer survivors are more likely than the general population to havehigher prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. However, diabetic management was notsignificantly higher in cancer survivors than in non-cancer survivors, despite their having a higher prevalence.Several factors, such as, age, drinking, years since cancer diagnosis, self-perceived health status, and specificcancer types were found to affect to management of hypertension and diabetes. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: These data suggestthat cancer survivors appear to be better than non-cancer survivors at management of hypertension, but notdiabetes. There is a need for healthcare providers to recognize the importance of long-term chronic diseasemanagement for cancer survivors and for the care model to be shared between primary care physicians andoncologists.