Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and associated factors in Korean cancer survivors

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to evaluate prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors compared to non-cancer controls from a population-based sample and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by 2009 consensus criteria. Associated factors with were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis among cancer survivors. Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors (n = 335) was similar to that in the non-cancer population (n = 10,671). However, gastric cancer survivors showed lower risk of metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.86). Age of more than 60 years (aOR 4.83, 95% CI 1.94-12.03), BMI between 23 and 25 (aOR 6.71, 95% CI 2.90-15.6), BMI more than 25 (aOR 12.23, 95% CI 5.20-28.77) were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors. Conclusions: Cancer survivors are unlikely to have a higher risk of the metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls in Korea. This finding may be due to a relatively high proportion of gastric cancer survivors in Korea than in Western countries. The risk for metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors would appear to vary according to oncological and non-oncological factors.