Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and risk of Colorectal Cancer (CRC): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a commonly associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Interest in the relationship between MetS and cancer has been evolving. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between MetS and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Method: Case-control and prospective cohort studies with CRC incidence or mortality in participants with and without MetS were included in the analysis. Results: Fifteen studies, which reported an association between MetS and CRC, were included. This comprised 12,019 cases of CRC in a total of 739,731 participants. The results showed that MetS confers a significant increase in the risk of CRC incidence (OR 1·52, 95% CI 1·33 - 1·73). When studies that did not adjust for confounders were excluded, the effect estimate was similar (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1·25 - 1·58). MetS is associated with an increased risk (51%) of CRC in both males and females. Conclusion: It may be beneficial to identify and optimally treat MetS components as part of the screening or preventive measures for risk factor modification of CRC.