Taiwanese Study Shows Increased Risk of Head and Neck Cancer in Patients With Diabetes
In a Taiwanese retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, Tseng et al found that diabetes was associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer, including increased risk of oral cavity, oropharyngeal, and nasopharyngeal cancers.
Study Details
The study involved data from 89,089 patients newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2002 and controls without diabetes-related medical claims from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database. Patients had to have prescriptions for antidiabetic medication for 3 months in the index year. Controls were matched 1:1 for comorbidities (obesity, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension), sex, and age. Subjects were followed through December 31 or until censoring due to death.
Increased Risk
The rate of head and neck cancer among diabetic vs nondiabetic subjects was 8.07 vs 5.50/10,000 person years (incidence rate ratio = 1.47, P < .001). In multivariate analysis adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, obesity, geographic region, and monthly income, the group with diabetes was at significantly increased risk of head and neck cancer overall (0.71% vs 0.50%, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31–1.67), oral cavity cancer (0.41% vs 0.24%, HR = 1.74, 95% CI =1.47–2.06), oropharyngeal cancer (0.06% vs 0.04%, HR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.01–2.31), and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (0.11% vs 0.08%, HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.03–1.89). There was no difference between groups in risk for hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer.
The investigators concluded, “Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing [head and neck cancer]. The risks of developing oral cavity cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma were significantly higher in patients with [diabetes].”
Yung-Song Lin, MD, of Taipei Medical University, is the corresponding author for the JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery article.
This study was supported by the Taipei Medical University and Chi Mei Medical Center Research Fund. The study authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
