Who are the cancer survivors? A nationwide study in Denmark, 1943-2010

Background:No nationwide studies on social position and prevalence of comorbidity among cancer survivors exist.Methods:We performed a nationwide prevalence study defining persons diagnosed with cancer 1943-2010 and alive on the census date 1 January 2011 as cancer survivors. Comorbidity was compared by social position with the non-cancer population.Results:Cancer survivors composed 4% of the Danish population. Somatic comorbidity was more likely among survivors (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.57-1.60) and associated with higher age, male sex, short education, and living alone among survivors.Conclusions:Among cancer survivors, comorbidity is common and highly associated with social position.