Cardiovascular mortality associated with colorectal cancer: a population-based observational study using the SEER database

This study aimed to quantify the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) relative to the general population. We conducted a population-based cohort analysis using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (1990–2021). A total of 201,353 CRC patients aged ≥ 30 years were identified. Poisson regression models were employed to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD mortality. CRC patients demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of CVD mortality compared to the general population (IRR 1.16, 95% CI 1.14–1.17). The risk of CVD mortality reached its peak during the first month following cancer diagnosis (IRR 9.11, 95% CI 8.46–9.80). Stratified analyses revealed that younger patients faced the highest relative excess risk, particularly those in the 30–39 age group (IRR 4.87, 95% CI 2.83–8.39). The association between CRC and CVD mortality varied based on demographic and tumor features. These findings highlight a critical window of elevated cardiovascular mortality immediately following a colorectal cancer diagnosis, emphasizing the need for heightened multidisciplinary awareness of early cardiovascular vulnerability. Future prospective studies are needed to explore effective mitigative strategies.