Prospective analysis of association of metabolic syndrome scores trajectory patterns with risk of cancers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with elevated cancer risk. However, a single MetS assessment does not fully reveal the long-term association with cancer. The prospective Kailuan study in Tangshan (China; southeast of Beijing) included 44,115 participants (78.9% men and 21.1% women) who completed health examination three times between 2006 and 2010, resulting in four distinct MetS score trajectory patterns. Compared to participants with a low-stable trajectory pattern, the elevated-increasing trajectory pattern was associated with an elevated risk of overall (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.04-1.55), breast (2.11; 1,04-4,34), endometrial (3.33; 1.16-6.77), kidney (4.52; 1.17-10.48), colorectal (2.54; 1.27-5.09), and liver (1.61; 1.09-4.57) cancers. Among participants with chronic inflammation (CRP ≥ 3 mg/l), the elevated-increasing pattern was significantly associated with subsequent breast, endometrial, colorectal, and liver cancers. The authors conclude that trajectories of MetS scores are associated with the occurrence of cancers.