Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Factors in Korean Cancer Survivors

Background: This study was designed to evaluate prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among cancersurvivors compared to non-cancer controls from a population-based sample and to identify associated riskfactors. Materials and
Methods: Data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition ExaminationSurvey were analyzed to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by 2009 consensuscriteria. Associated factors with were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis among cancersurvivors.
Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors (n = 335) was similarto that in the non-cancer population (n = 10,671). However, gastric cancer survivors showed lower risk ofmetabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.20-0.86). Age of more than 60 years (aOR 4.83, 95% CI 1.94−12.03), BMI between 23 and 25 (aOR 6.71,95% CI 2.90−15.6), BMI more than 25 (aOR 12.23, 95% CI 5.20−28.77) were significantly associated withthe metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors.
Conclusions: Cancer survivors are unlikely to have a higherrisk of the metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls in Korea. This finding may be due to a relativelyhigh proportion of gastric cancer survivors in Korea than in Western countries. The risk for metabolicsyndrome among cancer survivors would appear to vary according to oncological and non-oncologicalfactors.