Metabolic syndrome in adult cancer survivors: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Cross-sectional studies have reported inconsistent findings on whether the risk of metabolic syndrome is high among cancer survivors. We conducted a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE in April 2010. Two evaluators independently reviewed and selected articles, based on pre-determined selection criteria.

RESULTS

Out of 257 articles meeting our initial criteria, 9 cross-sectional studies, which involved 6763 participants (1762 cases and 5001 controls) were included in the final analysis. Compared with the healthy control groups, the cancer survivors were at an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, in the random-effects meta-analysis of all 9 cross-sectional studies (OR=1.84; 95% CI=1.14-2.97; I(2)=80.5). In the subgroup meta-analysis by cancer type, a significant positive association was observed for hematologic malignancies, including ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), AML (acute myelogenous leukemia), NHL (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) (OR=1.94; 95% CI=1.06-3.55; I(2)=68.1%), whereas no significant association was found for non-hematologic malignancies, including testicular tumor, prostate cancer, sarcoma, and epithelial ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies found that adult cancer survivors with hematologic malignancies were at an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.