Women with metabolic syndrome face higher risk of gynaecological cancers, finds study

Women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) face a significantly increased risk of various gynecological cancers, according to a new systematic review published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).

The analysis, conducted by researchers from ICMR-National Institute of Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, evaluated global evidence on the link between MetS and cancers of the ovary, endometrium, cervix, vagina and vulva.

Metabolic syndrome is a complex set of metabolic disorders that include obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, high triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Its prevalence increases rapidly with age; It ranges from approximately 13% in young adults (18-29 years) to almost 50% by age 50 and is more common in women (35%) than men (26%).

Among the types of work

The review found that women with MetS were significantly more likely to develop various gynecological cancers. Based on case-control studies, the odds ratio (OR) for endometrial cancer was 1.99; This shows that women with MetS are almost twice as likely to develop the disease as those without MetS. For ovarian cancer, the odds were even higher (OR 3.44), indicating a threefold increase in risk. Cervical cancer also showed high odds (OR 1.9), while smaller but significant associations were noted for vaginal and vulvar cancers.

In cross-sectional studies, the odds of developing endometrial cancer were found to be more than twice as high (OR 2.64) in women with MetS. Similarly, cohort studies that followed participants over time revealed a 45% higher risk of endometrial cancer (hazard ratio, HR 1.45), a 26% higher risk of cervical cancer (HR 1.26), a 49% higher risk of vulvar cancer (HR 1.49), and a 54% higher risk of vaginal cancer (HR 1.54) among women with MetS compared with those without MetS. took it out.

India specific data

“Despite the increasing burden of MetS and related non-communicable diseases in India, we were unable to find any Indian studies that could be included in this analysis,” said ICMR-NIRRCH corresponding author and scientist Susan Idicula-Thomas. “This highlights a significant gap in our understanding of comorbidity risks among Indian women. Without population-specific data, it becomes difficult to translate these insights into actionable strategies,” he said.

Indra Kundu, a PhD scientist at ICMR-NIRRCH and first author of the paper, said large differences in study design and population characteristics in the literature reviewed make it difficult to compare risk estimates.

Preventive strategies

Highlighting the public health implications, Denny John from MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences said: “The study underlines the importance of integrating women with existing metabolic disorders such as diabetes into preventive health programmes. This is crucial for both primary prevention and early diagnosis.”

Based on the findings, the authors recommend that management of metabolic syndrome should become an important component in the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers. They emphasize the need for primary prevention and early detection efforts, especially for women with fully developed metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

The researchers also called for large-scale, prospective cohort studies in the Indian context.