Cardiac and vascular late sequelae in long-term survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Jörg Faber; Dr. Hiltrud Merzenich, since 7/2015; Professor Dr. Philipp Wild
• Subject Area: Epidemiology and Medical Biometry/Statistics ; Hematology, Oncology ; Cardiology, Angiology ; Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: from 2012 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 224285628

As the prognosis of childhood cancer is improving (currently 75-80%) the attention is shifting toward late effects in long-term survivors. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease seems to be considerably elevated compared to the general population. This study aims to describe the health status of a cohort of 1000 survivors after childhood cancer in Germany, with an emphasis on subclinical disease. . The analytical elements also include risk factors (therapy related and classic risk factors) as well as genetic aspects. This is achieved by by utilizing the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) examination plattform. The GHS is an epidemiological, prospective population based cohort study with 15,000 participants, using a highly standardized comprehensive cardiovascular examination program Within the first phase of the CVSS-study, the participation among the eligible former patients is currently 44%. In the first 11 months of the first phase, where not all eligible patients have been invited yet, 862 invitees agreed to participate and so far 542 patients were examined. Until the end of the first phase of the CVSS-study, 600 examinations will be completed. A preliminary non-responder analysis based on the German Childhood Cancer Registry baseline data shows no major differences between participants and non-participants. A very preliminary analysis underlined the need for the investigation of childhood cancer survivors: the transthoracic echocardiographic investigation detected in 2% of the sample an overt heart failure and in 13% an asymptomatic cardiac disorder in the sense of an asymptomatic heart failure, which is known from literature to have a worse prognosis. All necessary procedures were tested and established, all agreements from government agencies and relevant organizations were obtained.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemalige Antragstellerin: Privatdozentin Dr. Claudia Spix, until 6/2015