Saed News: A new study suggests that individuals with metabolic problems may face an increased risk of developing cancer.
According to SAEDNEWS, citing HealthDay News, researchers reported that people with advanced CKM syndrome (cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic syndrome) face up to a 30% higher risk of cancer.
Lead researcher Dr. Hidehiro Kaneko, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Tokyo in Japan, said in a press release: “The findings of this study suggest that in individuals with CKM syndrome, not only the risk of cardiovascular disease but also the risk of cancer should be considered.”
The components of CKM syndrome include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, excess weight, and reduced kidney function.
The greatest risks of CKM syndrome are heart attack and stroke, but the condition also affects all major organ systems. Therefore, researchers said it is also associated with kidney failure, dementia, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea.
For the study, researchers examined whether CKM syndrome may also be linked to an increased risk of cancer.
The team analyzed data from approximately 1.4 million people in Japan using an insurance database and tracked cancer cases based on CKM syndrome status.
After following participants for more than three years, results showed that cancer risk increased significantly with the severity of CKM syndrome:
Stage 1 – 3% higher risk
Stage 2 – 2% higher risk
Stage 3 – 25% higher risk
Stage 4 – 30% higher risk
Researchers said the severity is determined by the number of CKM components present in an individual.
Kaneko said: “CKM syndrome represents a complex interaction between cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic systems, where dysfunction in one area may cause or worsen dysfunction in others.”
He added that dysfunction in any of these systems, due to shared risk factors, is independently associated with cancer risk. This study suggests that the accumulation of risk factors within the CKM framework may contribute to the development of various cancers.
Dr. Tochuco Okousa, director of cardio-oncology services at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and volunteer for the American Heart Association, said: “These results suggest that healthy behaviors that prevent heart disease and kidney failure are also likely to help protect against cancer.”
He added: “Healthy lifestyle choices can potentially affect both of these leading causes of death. For individuals with established cardiovascular risk, the CKM staging framework may be a useful tool for identifying high-risk individuals for potential cancer screening and evaluation.”
