Shing Fung Lee 1 2, Maja Nikšić 3,4, Miguel Angel Luque-Fernandez 3,5 (Senior and corresponding author)
1 Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
2 Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hong Kong
3 Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
4 Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
5 Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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The relationship between metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer risk remains unclear. This study assessed the association between metabolic syndrome and its individual components (hypertension, high triglycerides, central obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and prediabetes/diabetes) with prostate cancer incidence using data from the UK Biobank. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of prostate cancer while adjusting for significant clinical confounders. Overall, metabolic syndrome showed no association with prostate cancer incidence (RR 0.94; 95% CI, 0.84–1.06); however, when assessed individually, hypertension (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01–1.41) was associated with increased prostate cancer risk. In contrast, prediabetes/diabetes (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.78–1.04), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.89–1.17), obesity (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.98–1.34) and hyperlipidemia (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76–1.00) did not show a significant association. These findings suggest that considering metabolic syndrome as a single disorder may produce misleading results. Given that it comprises a combination of biochemical markers and conditions, assessing each component’s relation to prostate cancer risk is essential. Interventions focusing on hypertension might hold the potential in reducing prostate cancer risk.
Keywords: Prostate Cancer; Metabolic Syndrome; Risk Factors; Lifestyle; Diet; Exercise.