Diabetes mellitus and subsite-specific colorectal cancer risks in the Iowa Women's Health Study

Paul J Limburg, Kristin E Anderson, Trista W Johnson, David R Jacobs, Deann Lazovich, Ching-Ping Hong, Kristin K Nicodemus, Aaron R. Folsom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

OBJECTIVE: Controversy remains regarding the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. To clarify and extend the existing data, we prospectively evaluated the association between self-reported type 2 DM (onset at >30 years of age) and incident CRC, overall and by anatomic subsite, among postmenopausal women in the Iowa Women's Health Study (n = 35,230).

METHODS: After 14 years of follow-up, a total of 870 incident CRC cases were identified through annual linkage to the Iowa Cancer Registry. DM was analyzed as reported at baseline and as a time-dependent variable using information obtained during follow-up. CRC risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS: After adjusting for age, body mass index and other potential confounding variables, the relative risk (RR) for women with DM versus women without DM was modestly increased at 1.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.1-1.8]. By anatomic subsite, the RR for proximal colon cancer was statistically significantly increased (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6), whereas the RRs for distal colon (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.6-1.8) and rectal cancer (RR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.6) were not statistically different from unity. Analyses that included DM ascertained at baseline and follow-up yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION: In this large, prospective study of postmenopausal women, the association between DM and incident CRC was found to be subsite specific. If confirmed by others, this finding implies that CRC prevention strategies among type 2 DM patients should include examination of the proximal colon.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-7
Number of pages5
JournalCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Volume14
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2005

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Age of Onset
  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Iowa
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmenopause
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Registries
  • Risk Factors
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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