Associations between metabolic disorders and risk of cancer in Danish men and women--a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic disorders is increasing and has been suggested to increase cancer risk, but the relation between metabolic disorders and risk of cancer is unclear, especially in young adults. We investigated the associations between diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia on risk of all-site as well as site-specific cancers. METHODS: We consecutively included men and women from nationwide Danish registries 1996-2011, if age 20-89 and without cancer prior to date of entry. We followed them throughout 2012. Metabolic disorders were defined using discharge diagnosis codes and claimed prescriptions. We used time-dependent sex-stratified Poisson regression models adjusted for age and calendar year to assess associations between metabolic disorders, and risk of all-site and site-specific cancer (no metabolic disorders as reference). RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 12.6 (± 5.7 standard deviations [SD]) years, 4,826,142 individuals (50.2% women) with a mean age of 41.4 (± 18.9 SD) years had 423,942 incident cancers. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of all-site cancer in patients with diabetes or hypertension were highest immediately following diagnosis of metabolic disorder. In women, cancer risk associated with diabetes continued to decline albeit remained significant (IRRs of 1.18-1.22 in years 1-8 following diagnosis). For diabetes in men, and hypertension, IRRs stabilized and remained significantly increased after about one year with IRRs of 1.10-1.13 in men for diabetes, and 1.07-1.14 for hypertension in both sexes. Conversely, no association was observed between hypercholesterolemia (treatment with statins) and cancer risk. The association between hypertension and cancer risk was strongest in young adults aged 20-34 and decreased with advancing age. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and hypertension were associated with increased risk of all-site cancer.

Associations between body mass index and development of metabolic disorders in fertile women--a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic disorders are relatively uncommon in young women, but may increase with obesity. The associations between body mass index (BMI) and risks of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in apparently healthy, young women have been insufficiently investigated, and are the aims of this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Women giving birth during the years 2004-2009, with no history of cardiovascular disease, renal insufficiency, pregnancy-associated metabolic disorders, diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia were identified in nationwide registers. Women were categorized as underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (BMI=18.5 to <25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI=25 to <30 kg/m(2)), obese-I (BMI=30 to <35 kg/m(2)), obese-II (BMI=35 to <40 kg/m(2)), and obese-III (BMI≥40 kg/m(2)). We assessed risks by Poisson regression models (adjusted for age, calendar year; reference=normal weight). The cohort comprised 252 472 women with a median age of 30.4 years (IQR=27.2;33.7) and a median follow-up of 5.5 years (IQR=3.9;6.8). In total, 2029 women developed diabetes, 3133 women developed hypertension, and 1549 women developed dyslipidemia. Rate ratios (RRs) of diabetes were: 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.62 to 1.14) for underweight, 2.63 (CI=2.36 to 2.93) for overweight, 4.83 (CI=4.27 to 5.47) for obese grade-I, 7.17 (CI=6.10 to 8.48) for obese grade-II, and 6.93 (CI=5.47 to 8.79) for obese grade-III women. For hypertension, corresponding RRs were 0.86 (CI=0.69 to 1.09), 1.82 (CI=1.67 to 1.98), 2.81 (CI=2.52 to 3.13), 3.92 (CI=3.36 to 4.56), and 5.69 (CI=4.71 to 6.89), and for dyslipidemia, RRs were 1.18 (CI=0.85 to 1.65), 2.01 (CI=1.75 to 2.31), 3.11 (CI=2.61 to 3.70), 4.64 (CI=3.66 to 5.87), and 3.72 (CI=2.53 to 5.48). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide study of fertile, apparently healthy women, pre-pregnancy BMI was strongly associated with an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia within 5.5 years following childbirth.

Prepregnancy obesity and associations with stroke and myocardial infarction in women in the years after childbirth: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events (stroke or myocardial infarction) are often associated with poorer prognosis in younger, compared with older individuals. We examined the associations between prepregnancy obesity and the risks of myocardial infarction and stroke in young, healthy women. METHODS AND RESULTS: All Danish women giving birth during 2004-2009 without a history of renal disease or cardiovascular disease were identified from national registers and followed for a median time of 4.5 years (interquartile range, 2.8-5.8). They were grouped according to prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) in underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (BMI=18.5-<25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI=25-<30 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI≥30 kg/m(2)). The hazard ratios of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and a composite outcome (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death) were assessed using multivariable Cox regression models. We included 273 101 women with a median age of 30.4 years (interquartile range, 27.2-33.8). A total of 68 women experienced a myocardial infarction, and 175 women experienced an ischemic stroke. The adjusted hazard ratios of myocardial infarction compared with normal weight were 2.50 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.97-6.50) in underweight, 1.68 (95% CI, 0.92-3.06) in overweight, and 2.63 (95% CI, 1.41-4.91) in obese women. For ischemic stroke the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.06 (95% CI, 0.44-2.28) in underweight, 1.27 (95% CI, 0.87-1.85) in overweight, and 1.89 (95% CI, 1.25-2.84) in obese women, respectively. For the composite outcome, hazard ratios were 1.34 (95% CI, 0.81-2.20), 1.43 (95% CI, 1.11-1.84), and 1.76 (95% CI, 1.31-2.34) for underweight, overweight, and obese women. CONCLUSIONS: In apparently healthy women of fertile age, prepregnancy obesity was associated with increased risks of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in the years after childbirth.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Risk factors for VTE among pregnant women are not sufficiently investigated. PURPOSE: To examine pharmacological and non-pharmacological VTE risk factors during pregnancy (antepartum). METHODS: The population comprised all pregnant women in Denmark aged 15-50 giving birth 2003-2010. Pregnancies were linked on an individual level with national registers for hospital admissions and drug dispenses from pharmacies. Risk of first occurring VTE antepartum was examined with Cox regression models. RESULTS: Out of 299 810 pregnancies, 337 experienced a VTE, incidence rate 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.3) per 1000 pregnancies. Being underweight (body mass index [BMI] < 18.5 kg/m(2) ) was associated with a decreased risk of VTE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53 [CI 0.29-0.98]) compared to normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m(2) ). Overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m(2) ) increased VTE risk (HR 1.30 [CI 1.01-1.67]) but obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) ) was insignificant (HR 1.14 [CI 0.82-1.58]). A history of VTE was highly significant (HR 72.65 [CI 51.17-103.15]). The youngest (<20 years) and oldest (≥35 years) had insignificantly increased risks (HR 1.45 [CI 0.80-2.62] and HR 1.31 [CI 0.98-1.75], respectively) compared to those aged 20-30 years. Sixteen groups of medications, including anti-infectious medications, hormones, aminosalicylic acid, insulin, and benzodiazepine derivatives, were associated with VTE. CONCLUSION: The risk of antepartum VTE was increased in women with prior VTE. Compared to normal weight women, being underweight decreased the risk of VTE whereas being overweight increased the risk. Also, the use of several medications was associated with increased risk of VTE.