Cancer: hypertension and diabetes increase the risk of many types of cancer

Researchers from Capital University in China have found that diseases that are part of the metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, excess abdominal fat) may be risk factors for the development of certain cancers. The results of the study are published in the journal Cancer.

The study involved 44,115 Chinese adults and Chinese women. It is noted that the average age of the subjects was 49 years old. Scientists collected information about the health status of the participants, measured the levels of sugar and cholesterol in their blood, recorded height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure.

Using this information, the researchers divided the participants into four groups based on the severity of their metabolic syndrome symptoms. Metabolic syndrome is a metabolic disorder associated with obesity, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. This was followed by a follow-up phase that lasted from 2006 to 2021.

During this time, 2,271 cases of cancer were identified. Scientists calculated that, compared to participants without metabolic syndrome, subjects with a tendency to develop it had a higher risk of any type of cancer of the breast, endometrium, kidney, intestine and liver by 1.3, 2.1, 3.3, 4.5, 2.5 and 1.6 times, respectively.

According to scientists, prevention and timely treatment of metabolic syndrome serve as important tools to reduce the likelihood of developing many types of cancer. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the relationship between metabolic syndrome diseases and cancer remain to be explored.

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