Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Risk of Cancer

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22648858

PubMed

Cancer. 2012 May 30. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27612. [Epub

ahead of print]

Chronic fatigue syndrome and

subsequent risk of cancer among

elderly US adults.

Chang CM, Warren JL, Engels EA.

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National

Cancer Institute, Rockville, land.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown

but is thought to be associated with immune abnormalities

or infection.

Because cancer can arise from similar conditions,

associations between CFS and cancer were examined in a

population-based case-control study among the US

elderly.

METHODS:

Using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

(SEER)-Medicare registry data, approximately 1.2 million

cancer cases and 100,000 controls (age range, 66-99

years; 1992-2005) were evaluated.

CFS was identified in the period more than 1 year prior to

selection, using linked Medicare claims.

Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the

odds ratios (ORs) comparing the CFS prevalence in cases

and controls, adjusting for age, sex, and selection year.

All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS:

CFS was present in 0.5% of cancer cases overall and 0.5%

of controls.

CFS was associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin

lymphoma (NHL) (OR = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]

= 1.16-1.43, P = 1.7 × 10(-6) ).

Among NHL subtypes, CFS was associated with diffuse

large B cell lymphoma (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.12-1.61),

marginal zone lymphoma (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.38-2.57),

and B cell NHL not otherwise specified (OR = 1.51, 95% CI

= 1.03-2.23).

CFS associations with NHL overall and NHL subtypes

remained elevated after excluding patients with medical

conditions related to CFS or NHL, such as autoimmune

conditions.

CFS was also associated, although not after multiple

comparison adjustment, with cancers of the pancreas (OR

= 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07-1.47), kidney (OR = 1.27, 95% CI =

1.07-1.49), breast (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.74-0.98), and

oral cavity and pharynx (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.49-1.00).

CONCLUSIONS:

Chronic immune activation or an infection associated with

CFS may play a role in explaining the increased risk of

NHL.

Copyright © 2012 American Cancer Society.

PMID: 22648858 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]