Healthcare Fragmentation and Cardiovascular Risk Control Among Older Cancer Survivors in the REasons for Geographic and Racial differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death among 5-year cancer survivors. Survivors see many providers and poor coordination may contribute to worse CVD risk factor control. We sought to determine associations between fragmentation and CVD risk factor control among survivors overall and by self-rated health. METHODS: We included REGARDS participants aged 66+ years who: 1) had a cancer history; 2) reported diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia; and 3) had continuous Medicare coverage. Twelve month ambulatory care fragmentation was calculated using the Bice-Boxerman Index (BBI). We determined associations between fragmentation and CVD risk factors, defining “control” as fasting glucose <126 mg/dL or non-fasting glucose <200 mg/dL for diabetes; blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg for hypertension; and total cholesterol <240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <160 mg/dL, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol >40 mg/dL for hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: The 1,002 cancer survivors (2+ years since cancer treatment) had mean age of 75 years, 39% were women, and 23% were Black. Among individuals with diabetes (N=225), hypertension (N=660), and hyperlipidemia (N=516), separately, approximately 60% had CVD risk factor control. Overall, more fragmented care was not associated with worse control. However, among cancer survivors with excellent, very good or good health, more fragmentation was associated with a decreased likelihood of diabetes control (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.61–0.99), adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: More fragmented care was associated with worse glycemic control among cancer survivors with diabetes who reported excellent, very good, or good health. Associations were not observed for control of hypertension or hyperlipidemia. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Reducing fragmentation may support glucose control among survivors with diabetes.