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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Metabolic syndrome and its component traits present gender-specific association with liver cancer risk: a prospective cohort study

Authors: Bin Xia, Jianjun Peng, De Toni Enrico, Kuiqing Lu, Eddie C. Cheung, Zichong Kuo, Qiangsheng He, Yan Tang, Anran Liu, Die Fan, Changhua Zhang, Yulong He, Yihang Pan, Jinqiu Yuan

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background & Aims

Little is known on the gender-specific effect and potential role of non-linear associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and liver cancer risk. We evaluated these associations based on the UK Biobank cohort.

Methods

We included 474,929 individuals without previous cancer based on the UK Biobank cohort. Gender-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Non-linear associations for individual MetS components were assessed by the restricted cubic spline method.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 6.6 years, we observed 276 cases of liver cancer (175 men, 101 women). MetS [HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.27–1.72] and central obesity [HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.18–2.31] were associated with higher risk of liver cancer in men but not in women. Participants with hyperglycaemia has higher risk of liver cancer. High waist circumference and blood glucose were dose-dependently associated with increased liver cancer risk in both genders. For high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (both genders) and blood pressure (women), U-shaped associations were observed. Low HDL cholesterol (< 1.35 mmol/L) in men and high HDL cholesterol in women (> 1.52 mmol/L) were associated with increased liver cancer risk.

Conclusions

MetS components showed gender-specific linear or U- shaped associations with the risk of liver cancer. Our study might provide evidence for individualized management of MetS for preventing liver cancer.

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Title: Metabolic syndrome and its component traits present gender-specific association with liver cancer risk: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Bin Xia
Jianjun Peng
De Toni Enrico
Kuiqing Lu
Eddie C. Cheung
Zichong Kuo
Qiangsheng He
Yan Tang
Anran Liu
Die Fan
Changhua Zhang
Yulong He
Yihang Pan
Jinqiu Yuan
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08760-1

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Background & Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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