Competing risk analysis of cardiovascular death in patients with primary gallbladder cancer

Background Developments in medical technology are resulting in continuous decreases in the cancer mortality rate of patients with gallbladder cancer, while non‐cancer deaths in cancer patients are becoming more common. The main cause of this is cardiovascular mortality (CVM). The purpose of this study was to determine the CVM risk in patients with primary gallbladder cancer (PGC). Methods We extracted information on patients in the SEER database who were diagnosed with PGC from 2004 to 2015, compared CVM in patients with PGC with the general United States population, and calculated standardized mortality rates (SMRs) and the absolute excess risk. A competing risks model was used to identify and analyze the independent risk factors for cardiovascular death in patients with PGC. Results This study included 5925 patients, 247 of whom died from cardiovascular disease. The SMR of cardiovascular death in patients with PGC was 15.84 (95% confidence interval: 15.83–15.85), and the SMR was slightly lower in male than female patients. The competing risks analysis indicated that age, marital status, cancer cell differentiation, chemotherapy status, and year of diagnosis were risk factors for cardiovascular death in patients with PGC. Conclusions The CVM risk is considerably higher in patients with PGC than in the general population. It is therefore very necessary to apply cardioprotective interventions to patients with PGC. Using patient data from the SEER database to assess risk factors for cardiovascular death in Primary gallbladder carcinoma patients, the article adopts a competing risk model approach that can provide a clearer understanding of the link between Primary gallbladder carcinoma and cardiovascular disease. It can better help clinicians make relevant clinical decisions.