scholarly journals Diabetes, metformin use, and colon cancer: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

2012 ◽  
Vol 167 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Hsiao Tseng

ObjectiveA retrospective cohort study, using a population-based reimbursement database, was conducted for investigating the relationship between diabetes and colon cancer and assessing whether metformin had a protective effect.MethodsOverall, 493 704 men and 502 139 women, covered by the National Health Insurance, without colon cancer were followed from 2003 to 2005. Cox regression evaluated the adjusted relative risk (RR), considering confounders and detection examinations.ResultsEven though diabetes patients had a significantly higher probability of receiving examinations that could lead to the detection of colon cancer, they had a significantly higher risk (24%) of this cancer after adjustment. Metformin users had a significantly lower risk (27%) of colon cancer. While comparing patients with diabetes for <1, 1–3, and ≥3 years to nondiabetes individuals, the adjusted RR (95% confidence interval) was 1.308 (1.020–1.679), 1.087 (0.900–1.313), and 1.185 (1.055–1.330) respectively. The higher risk among those with diabetes for <1 year suggested a possible reverse causality or a link with prediabetes. However, diabetes still might play some role in the development of colon cancer in those with diabetes for ≥3 years. The duration of metformin use showed an inverse trend, with a significant RR of 0.643 (0.490–0.845) in users for ≥3 years, when compared with nonusers. In addition, metformin may reduce colon cancer risk associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a surrogate for smoking).ConclusionsFollowing adjustment for potential detection bias and other covariates, diabetes remains a significant risk factor for colon cancer. Metformin may protect against colon cancer.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jun Choi ◽  
Do Sun Kwon ◽  
Taehee Kim ◽  
Jae Hwa Cho ◽  
Hyung Jung Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels reflect skeletal muscle volume and general performance scales, which are significantly associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development and prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the ALT levels as a risk factor for COPD development. This 13-year population-based retrospective cohort observational study included patients registered in the health check-up cohort database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 422,452 participants were analysed. We classified groups according to the baseline ALT levels (groups 1–5: ALT (IU/L) < 10; 10–19; 20–29; 30–39; and ≥ 40, respectively). The incidence of COPD was highest in group 1, decreasing as the group number increased among in males. Cox regression analysis in males revealed that lower ALT level was a significant risk factor for COPD development (univariable, HR: 0.992, 95% CI: 0.991–0.994; multivariable, HR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996–0.999). In addition, in the low ALT level groups (< 40 IU/L), COPD was more likely to be developed (univariable, HR: 1.341, 95% CI: 1.263–1.424; multivariable, HR: 1.097, 95% CI: 1.030–1.168). Our findings suggest that males with low ALT levels should be carefully monitored for COPD development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 700-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Papakrivou ◽  
Demosthenes Makris ◽  
Efstratios Manoulakas ◽  
Marios Karvouniaris ◽  
Epaminondas Zakynthinos

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) might be increased in cases with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). However, despite animal experimentation and physiological studies on humans in favor of this hypothesis, there is no definitive clinical data that IAH is associated with VAP. We therefore aimed to study whether IAH is a risk factor for increased incidence of VAP in critical care patients. This 1-center prospective observational cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, during 2013 to 2015. Consecutive patients were recruited if they presented risk factors for IAH at admission and were evaluated systematically for IAH and VAP for a 28-day period. Results: Forty-five (36.6%) of 123 patients presented IAH and 45 (36.6%) presented VAP; 24 patients presented VAP following IAH. Cox regression analysis showed that VAP was independently associated with IAH (1.06 [1.01-1.11]; P = .053), while there was an indication for an independent association between VAP and abdominal surgery (1.62 [0.87-3.03]; P = .11] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.79 [0.96-3.37]; P = .06). Conclusions: Intra-abdominal hypertension is an independent risk factor for increased VAP incidence in critically ill patients who present risk factors for IAH at admission to the ICU.


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