Metabolic Syndrome Increases Women's Risk of Endometrial Cancer by 39%

A new study finds that older women with metabolic syndrome may be at greater risk for endometrial cancer, regardless of whether they have weight issues—long considered a prime risk factor for the endometrial cancer.

While past research has suggested that metabolic syndrome may also heighten the risk of endometrial cancer, a team of National Institutes of Health investigators maintain that it has been unclear whether the link could be attributed to obesity or other factors.
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In an effort to analyze this connection, these researchers used the SEER-Medicare Linked Database to collect data on 16,323 women, age 65 and older, who had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer between the years 1993 and 2007, along with 100,751 women who were endometrial cancer-free. A metabolic syndrome diagnosis was given using criteria set by the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) or the International Diabetes Foundation.

Women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome using the ATP III criteria were found to be 39% more likely to receive a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome using the International Diabetes Foundation criteria, meanwhile, were 109% more likely to receive the same diagnosis.

“Within our study population of women in the Medicare system, a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was associated with higher risk of endometrial cancer,” says Britton Trabert, PhD, MS, an investigator in the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National Institutes of Health, and lead author of the study.

“Metabolic syndrome appeared to increase risk, regardless of whether the woman was considered obese,” adds Trabert, noting that “our study was not designed to evaluate the potential impact of preventing metabolic syndrome on endometrial cancer incidence.”

In addition to the well-established health benefits, she says, “weight loss and exercise are the most effective steps a woman can take to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome.”

—Mark McGraw

Reference

Trabert B, Wentzensen N, et al. Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Endometrial Cancer in the United States: A Study in the SEER–Medicare Linked Database. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2015.