People diagnosed with colorectal cancer are more likely to die from heart-related conditions than the general population, particularly within the first two years after diagnosis and among younger patients, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2025 Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25).
This is the first large study to closely track cardiovascular death rates in people with colorectal cancer over time. The findings suggest that attention to heart health should be a bigger part of cancer care, especially in patients who are under 50, male, or Black.
The research team, led by Dr. Ahsan Ayaz from Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in New York, analyzed data from more than 630,000 adults in the U.S. who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2021.
They used the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database to look at deaths related to heart conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, artery disease, and aortic aneurysms.
The results showed:
- Overall, colorectal cancer patients were 16% more likely to die of cardiovascular causes than people without cancer.
- In the first two years after diagnosis, the risk jumped to 45% higher.
- Younger patients (under 50) had the greatest increase in risk, being 2.4 times more likely to die of heart-related issues compared to their peers without cancer.
- Black patients had a 74% increased risk, and male patients had a 55% increased risk compared to the general population.
Why is this happening? The exact reasons aren’t fully known yet. Researchers believe several things may be at play. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and newer targeted drugs, may have harmful effects on the heart. The cancer itself can also create inflammation and stress in the body, which may raise heart risks. In some cases, lifestyle and existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure may also play a role.
Dr. Ayaz emphasized the need for closer teamwork between cancer specialists and primary care doctors. “The two-year period after a colorectal cancer diagnosis is a critical time,” he said. “Patients need aggressive care to manage heart-related risks like high blood pressure and diabetes.”
This study also highlights troubling disparities. Black patients and men had significantly higher cardiovascular death risks, pointing to deeper issues in healthcare access, socioeconomic differences, and possibly unequal treatment. More research is needed to explore these factors and reduce the gap.
The research team plans to continue their work by reviewing how different cancer treatments may impact the heart and whether certain patients face greater risks. They also aim to study how insurance, income, and access to care may influence outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.
Review and Analysis
This study adds to growing evidence that people with cancer are not just fighting one disease—many also face serious risks to their heart health. It confirms what earlier research has shown about cancer survivors having a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and takes it a step further by focusing on colorectal cancer specifically.
The most important takeaway is the timing: the first two years after a cancer diagnosis are the most dangerous for heart-related deaths. That means doctors should act quickly to check and manage cardiovascular risk factors in these patients—something that might not be a priority during cancer treatment today.
It also raises urgent questions about health equity. Why are Black patients and men more at risk? And why are younger people seeing such a dramatic rise in cardiovascular deaths? These are questions that future research—and future healthcare policies—will need to address.
In short, this study is a wake-up call: cancer treatment and heart health must go hand in hand. With colorectal cancer cases on the rise, especially among younger adults, it’s more important than ever to treat the whole patient—not just the cancer.
If you care about cancer risk, please read studies that exercise may stop cancer in its tracks, and vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that yogurt and high-fiber diet may cut lung cancer risk, and results showing that new cancer treatment may reawaken the immune system.
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