Metabolic syndrome - a group of conditions linked with heart disease and diabetes – may also play a part in dying of prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Umea University in Sweden analyzed statistics from 289, 866 men who were enrolled in a study called the Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer project. During a 12-year follow-up period, 6,673 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 961 died from the disease. Men who had the highest numbers for body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure had, respectively, a 36 percent and 62 percent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer.
The researchers emphasized that the statistics revealed a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, not developing it. But lead researcher Dr. Par Stattin said that the study did indicate that metabolic syndrome increases the rate of progression of the disease.
The group of conditions known as metabolic syndrome includes high blood sugar levels, excessive levels of cholesterol and fat around the waist. Metabolic syndrome is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.
The findings were published in “Cancer,” a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
