Prostate cancer is associated with the metabolic syndrome

Abstract 

Background

Obesity has been linked consistently to an increased risk of developing several malignancies, including cancers of the breast, colon, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder. The link between obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MS) remains elusive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the MS and diabetes at initial diagnosis of prostate cancer and to evaluate the relationship between the components of the MS in subjects with prostate cancer.

Methods

In a retrospective study, we reviewed clinical data, specifically the components of the metabolic syndrome (MS), to evaluate the prevalence of the MS and diabetes at the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Results

At initial diagnosis among 1408 subjects with prostate cancer, 60% of these subjects had the MS and 29% had diabetes. Among those subjects with the MS, 38% had diabetes and 89% had hypertension. Hypertension, elevated blood glucose levels, elevated body mass index, low high density lipoproteins and high triglycerides were the leading components of the MS, while low density lipoprotein cholesterol played a lesser role.

Conclusions

We conclude that the prevalence of the MS is high in subjects with prostate cancer.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Diabetes, Prostate cancer, Insulin resistance, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia