Journal Article

DKFZ-2026-00150

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Endocrine and metabolic late-effects in childhood cancer survivors in Germany: the VersKiK-Study.

Trocchi, P. ; Swart, E. ; Aleshchenko, E. ; Merzenich, H. ; Ronckers, C.DKFZ* ; Baust, K. ; Calaminus, G. ; Langer, T. ; Ihle, P. ; Kuepper-Nybelen, J. ; Luepkes, C. ; Droege, P. ; Ruhnke, T. ; Horenkamp-Sonntag, D. ; Marschall, U. ; Klein, M. ; Spix, C. ; Apfelbacher, C. ; Gebauer, J.

2026
Oxford University Press Oxford

Abstract: Endocrine and metabolic diseases are known to be common late effects in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We assessed the prevalence of these diseases in a large German CCS cohort, and a matched comparison population, using health claims data.The cohort study was based on record-linkage between the nationwide German Childhood Cancer Registry and claims data from 13 major German statutory health insurances.The monitored insurance period covered the years 2017-2021. We assessed the frequencies of endocrine and metabolic diseases among 11 863 5-year CCS, diagnosed 1991-2021, with continuous insurance coverage and a matched comparison group of 35 589 insured persons without a history of childhood cancer. We present prevalence and Prevalence Ratios (PR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).At least one endocrine or metabolic disease was recorded in 31.3% of survivors (n=3716) and in 16.4% of the comparison group (n=5819, PR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.8-2.0). The frequency of diseases was higher among females than among males in both groups. The PR was 2.4 (95%CI: 2.3-2.5) for males and 1.6 (95%CI: 1.5-1.7) for females. The frequency of at least one disease increased with increasing attained age. The disease with the highest frequency among CCS was hypothyroidism (15.85%), the highest PR was estimated for patients with primary thyroid cancer (43.5; 95%CI: 24.2-78.1).Our study highlights the increased vulnerability of CCS to endocrine and metabolic diseases compared to the general population and underscores the need for risk-adapted surveillance during the whole survivorship trajectory.

Keyword(s): cancer registry ; cancer survivorship ; childhood cancer ; claims data ; follow-up care ; late effects

Note: epub

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. CAYA Cancer Survivorship Forschung (C190)

Research Program(s):

1. 313 - Krebsrisikofaktoren und Prävention (POF4-313) (POF4-313)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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