Metabolic syndrome and cancer-related mortality among Korean men and women

Abstract

Background: We examined the association between the metabolic syndrome and cancer mortality in Koreans. Materials and methods: This study included 42 336 men and 32 168 women aged ≥20 years who took health examination and were followed up for 5.6 years. Mortality data were analyzed according to the metabolic syndrome. Results: The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of cancer mortality in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with subjects without metabolic syndrome was 1.41 (1.08-1.84) after adjustment for possible confounding factors. The association is significant only among men [RR 1.52 (1.10-2.10)], but not among women. The RRs and 95% CIs for cancer deaths in subjects with elevated body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides were 1.36 (1.07-1.71), 1.34 (1.07-1.69), 1.45 (1.14-1.86), and 1.60 (1.26-2.02) after mutual adjustment, respectively. Upon increasing the number of metabolic risk factors to 1, 2-3, and 4-5, the RRs and 95% CIs of death from cancer were 1.32 (0.83-1.48), 1.47 (1.10-1.96), and 2.42 (1.25-4.68), respectively, with a graded fashion (P for trend < 0.005). Conclusion: Our results indicate that metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cancer-related death in Korean adults. Prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome would be needed to reduce cancer mortality. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology.