Objective To investigate the
risk factors for acute
radiation esophagitis andpneumonitis after
radiation therapy in
esophageal cancer (EC)
patients with diabetes or
hypertension.
Methods A total of 373 EC
patients receiving three dimensional conformal
radiation therapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated
radiation therapy (IMRT) were included in this study.Among these
patients,42 showed concurrent with diabetes and 99 with
hypertension.
Radiation esophagitis or
pneumonitis in
patients with or without diabetes,and with or without
hypertension were monitored in the 1-year follow up,respectively.Results The
prevalence of grade 1,2,3 and 4
radiation esophagitis in diabetes and non-diabetes
patients was 40.5%,38.1%,14.3%,4.8% and 66.2%,27.8%,2.7%,1.8%,respectively,while that of the grade 1,2 and 3
radiation pneumonitis in diabetes and non-diabetes
patients was 31.0%,16.7%,9.5% and 30.8%,15.7%,1.2%,respectively.The
prevalence of grade 3 or above
radiation esophagitis and
pneumonitis in
patients with diabetes and was significantly higher than those with non-diabetes (x2 =13.573,12.279,P < 0.05).The
prevalence of grade 1,2,3 and 4
radiation esophagitis in
hypertension and non-
hypertension patients was 49.5%,38.4%,8.1%,3.0% and 68.2%,25.5%,2.6%,1.8%,respectively,while that of the grade 1,2 and 3
radiation pneumonitis in
hypertension and non-
hypertension patients were 30.3%,18.2%,5.1% and 31.0%,15.0%,1.1%,respectively.The
prevalence of grade 3 or above
radiation esophagitis and
pneumonitis in
patients with
hypertension was significantly higher than those with non-
hypertension (x2 =5.695、5.422,P < 0.05).Diabetes is an independent
risk factor for grade 3 or above acute
radiation esophagitis and
pneumonitis.Conclusions Diabetes or
hypertension might be
risk factors for severe
radiation esophagitis and
pneumonitis in EC
patients receiving
radiation therapy.