Aim: First Nations people with cancer are associated with poor survival and high prevalence of comorbidities. Socioeconomic and racial disparities may exacerbate cardiovascular health in people diagnosed with cancer. This review aims to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and treatment related cardiovascular disease outcomes in First Nations people with cancer.
Methods: Searches were conducted in OVID Medline, OVID Embase, CINAHL, and SCOPUS. Observational studies were included if focused on First Nation populations, from high income countries (OECD High Income Category 1), peer-reviewed quantitative observational and experimental studies with a focus on socioeconomic factors. Studies were excluded for paediatric populations, non-cancer populations, reporting on non-First Nation populations, non-English language studies, abstracts, editorials, commentaries, case reports/series, and qualitative studies.
Risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies- Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool.
Results: Review is currently underway. The results will include a synthesis of the pooled extracted data of included studies summarizing the findings based on the overall strength of the evidence and consistency of observed effects.
Implications: A key priority of the newly released Achieving Health Equity in Cancer Care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders is Optimal Cancer Care, which includes engagement of the primary health care sector in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across the cancer continuum using integrated approach to care, including management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases post cancer diagnosis. Optimal Cancer care also includes supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living well with, through and beyond cancer. Examining the impact between socioeconomic factors and cardiovascular disease in First Nations people will provide important insights on how to improve cancer care and outcomes and guide future priorities and policy for optimal care.