The relationship between metabolic syndrome and the incidence of colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVES@#This study evaluated the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components.@*METHODS@#Using health checkup and insurance claims data of 6,365,409 subjects, the occurrence of CRC according to stage of MetS by sex was determined from the date of the health checkup in 2009 until December 31, 2018.@*RESULTS@#Cumulative incidence rates (CIR) of CRC in men and women was 3.9 and 2.8 per 1000 (p < 0.001), respectively. CIR of CRC for the normal, pre-MetS, and MetS groups in men was 2.6, 3.9, and 5.5 per 1000 (p < 0.001) and CIR in women was 2.1, 2.9, and 4.5 per 1000 (p < 0.001), respectively. Compared with the normal group, the hazard ratio (HR) of CRC for the pre-MetS group was 1.25 (95% CI 1.17-1.33) in men and 1.09 (95% CI 1.02-1.17) in women, and the HR of CRC for the MetS group was 1.54 (95% CI 1.43-1.65) in men and 1.39 (95% CI 1.26-1.53) in women after adjustment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#We found that MetS is a risk factor for CRC in this study. Therefore, the prevention and active management of MetS would contribute to the prevention of CRC.

Factors Associated with Functional Decline in Older Adults After Discharge from an Acute-Care Hospital

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the trend in functional changes over time and factors associated with the number of areas showing functional decline in older adults who had been discharged from acute care hospitals. METHODS: This longitudinal study involved 156 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to one tertiary hospital in Seoul and discharged home. Authors investigated patient demographic and health-care characteristics and the number of areas showing functional decline at 1 and 3 months after discharge. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The number of areas showing functional decline increased between admission and 1 month after discharge and had declined slightly at 3 months after discharge. The factors associated with the number of areas showing functional decline at 3 months after discharge were age, education level, and length of hospitalization (p < .05); the factors associated at 1 month after discharge were medical department and caregiver relationship (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that older patients with no spouse or those with their elderly spouse as their caregiver are at risk of functional decline in a greater number of areas after discharge. Therefore, a comprehensive health-care policy to ensure care continuity is required for functional health maintenance for older adults after hospital discharge.