Relationship between diabetes mellitus and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and gastric cardia.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a risk factor for adenocarcinomas of the oesophagus and gastric cardia. Diabetes mellitus might mediate that association.

AIM

To estimate the risk of diabetes mellitus on the development of adenocarcinoma of distal oesophagus and gastric cardia beyond that of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

METHODS

A case-control study was performed using a national administrative database of the Veterans Administration.

RESULTS

A total of 311 cases of cancer and 10,154 controls were identified. Gender, age, and race were risks for cancer. Diabetes was diagnosed in 36% of cases, and 32% of controls (P = 0.15). Diabetic complications were diagnosed in 14% of cases and 13% of controls (P = 0.60). Multiple logistic regression confirmed the absence of an association between cancer and diabetes (odds ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.8-1.5) or diabetic complications (odds ratio 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.6-1.3), adjusting for age, gender, and race.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitations of this case-control study, there is no evidence of an association between diabetes and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or gastric cardia among US veterans with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.