Metabolic Syndrome and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Results of Propensity Score-Based Analyses in a Community-Based Cohort Study

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on colorectal cancer (CRC) using propensity score (PS) methods.

Methods: The study subjects were 2417 men and 4568 women from the Korean National Cancer Center (KNCC) Community Cohort enrolled between 2003 and 2010. Odds risks (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using PS matching analysis, regression models adjusted by the PS or stratified into five strata according to PS, and PS weighting methods were calculated.

Results: In women, MetS and abnormally high triglyceride (TG) levels were associated with CRC risk using the PS matching analysis (ORs, for MetS, 2.19 (95% CI, 1.10-4.33); for abnormal TG levels, 2.08 (95% CI, 1.07-4.02)). However, there were no significant associations between MetS and TG levels and CRC risk in men.

Conclusions: Our study might provide additional evidence that deteriorated metabolic profiles increase the risk of CRC in women rather than men. Thus, this may have an important role in effective population-level interventions for deteriorated metabolic profiles at an early stage.