Correlation between metabolic factors and pancreatic cancer in northwest China

AIM: To investigate the correlation between metabolic factors and pancreatic cancer in Chinese Hans in northwest China, in order to find new strategies for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-four pancreatic cancer patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from 2008 to 2014 were included in a case group, and 744 gender-and age-matched hospitalized patients without carcinoma or metabolic disease were included in a control group. A case-control study was carried out, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) estimating the relative risk of each of the four aspects of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and obesity) for pancreatic cancer were calculated to assess the correlation between them. RESULTS: In the Han population, compared with the hospitalized patients without carcinoma or metabolic disease, hyperglycemia was a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.49-2.03). Hypertension decreased the risk of pancreatic cancer, but there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05). In univariate analysis, obesity and hyperlipidemia were risk factors for pancreatic cancer (P < 0.05), and the OR values were 1.49 and 1.99, respectively. The association between hyperlipidemia and pancreatic cancer was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). When distribution characteristics of the factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with pancreatic cancer were studied, compared with the control group, there was a higher proportion of three or more kinds of metabolic disorders at the same time in patients with pancreatic cancer, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the Han population in northwest China, hyperglycemia can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Hypertension has no significant impact on the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Although hyperlipidemia and obesity were associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer in univariate analysis, more studies are needed to confirm such correlation. There is a higher proportion of three or more kinds of metabolic disorders at the same time in patients with pancreatic cancer.