Diabetes and risk of subsequent gastric cancer: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological data concerning the association between diabetes and the subsequent development of gastric cancer are controversial. This population-based retrospective cohort study investigated the subsequent risk of gastric cancer for diabetic patients.


METHODS
From claims data of the universal health insurance of Taiwan, we identified 19,625 persons aged ≥20 years newly diagnosed with diabetes during 2000-2005. A comparison group (n = 78,500), frequency matched by age, sex, and calendar year, was randomly selected from people without diabetes. Incidence and hazard ratios (HR) of gastric cancer were ascertained during the follow-up period until 2008. We also explored associations of antidiabetic medicines with the incidence of gastric cancer.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period, 47 subjects in the diabetic group and 216 subjects in the comparison group suffered gastric cancer, with the incidence rates of 4.34 and 4.86 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. During the first 4 years after diabetes diagnosis, the incidence of gastric cancer was relatively low in diabetic patients [adjusted HR = 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42-0.97]. However, after that time, the diabetic group had a 76% (95% CI = 1.06-2.91) higher risk of developing gastric cancer than the comparison group. In diabetic patients, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors were associated with a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer (adjusted HR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15-0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested that the association between diabetes and subsequent risk of gastric cancer may vary over time. Increased risk of gastric cancer was observed in patients with longer duration of diabetes.
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. yulung64@pchome.com.tw
Yu-Lung
YL
Chen
Kao-Chi
KC
Cheng
Shih-Wei
SW
Lai
I-Ju
IJ
Tsai
Che-Chen
CC
Lin
Fung-Chang
FC
Sung
Cheng-Chieh
CC
Lin
Pei-Chun
PC
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents