Comorbid Non-Communicable Diseases in Cancer Patients: Burden, Patterns, and Trends

Background: Cancer patients frequently suffer from coexisting non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which can complicate treatment decisions, worsen prognosis, and increase healthcare burden. However, evidence on the burden and patterns of comorbid NCDs among cancer patients in Bangladesh remains limited. Objective: To assess the burden, patterns, and associated factors of comorbid non-communicable diseases among cancer patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included data from 300 diagnosed cancer patients collected from Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital, Dhaka, between July and December 2024. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, cancer types, and physician-diagnosed comorbid NCDs was obtained through medical record review and patient interviews using a structured checklist. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with comorbid NCDs. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the study participants, 76.0% had at least one comorbid non-communicable disease, while 39.0% had multimorbidity (≥2 NCDs). Hypertension (44.0%) and diabetes mellitus (36.0%) were the most prevalent comorbid conditions. Comorbid NCDs were most common among lung cancer patients (81.5%), followed by gastrointestinal cancers (79.2%) and breast cancer patients (78.8%). The prevalence of comorbid NCDs increased significantly with age. Patients aged 40–59 years had nearly four times higher odds (COR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.93–7.71), and those aged ≥60 years had more than eleven times higher odds (COR = 11.57; 95% CI: 5.07–26.41) of having comorbid NCDs compared to patients aged below 40 years (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study reveals a high burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases among cancer patients in Dhaka, particularly among older individuals. Hypertension and diabetes were the predominant comorbidities across all cancer types. These findings emphasize the need for integrated and multidisciplinary cancer care approaches that incorporate routine screening and management of chronic non-communicable diseases to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life.