Meta-analysis of association between prediabetes and breast cancer

Diabetes mellitus has been recognize as a risk factor for breast cancer. Studies of the association between prediabetes and breast cancer have reported conflicting results. A meta-analysis of studies that reported breast cancer risks in patients having prediabetes compared to normoglycemic individuals has now been published. The meta-analysis included 7 studies with 24,586 prediabetic and 224,314 normoglycemic individuals (783 and 5739 breast cancer cases, respectively). The adjusted odds ratio for breast cancer was 1.19 (95% CI 1.07-1.34) in prediabetes. Subgroup analysis revealed a higher breast cancer risk with prediabetes in individuals aged less than 60 years (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.39-2.49) than in those aged 60 years or older (1.07; 0.97-1.18). The breast cancer risk with prediabetes was higher in studies with shorter follow-up. The authors conclude that prediabetic patients may benefit from intensified breast cancer monitoring and interventions to reverse prediabetes (graphical abstract).