Long-Term patterns of cancer incidence among patients with and without type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pradhan, Richeek; Yu, Oriana; Platt, Robert W.; Azoulay, Laurent
• Is Part Of: Diabetes research and clinical practice. Volume 185(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Type 2 diabetes -- Cancer -- Detection patterns -- Multiple cancer -- Cohort; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Diabetes Mellitus -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.109229
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8227

Abstract

Highlights: Patients with type 2 diabetes had a 19% increased risk of cancer incidence compared with patients without type 2 diabetes. Detection of cancer was highest immediately following the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, however specific patterns depended on the cancer type. The association between type 2 diabetes and cancer was higher 2010 onwards compared to previous decades. Patients with type 2 diabetes had a 5% increased risk of multiple cancers compared with patients without type 2 diabetes. Abstract: Aims: Studies using contemporary cohorts are needed to assess the association between type 2 diabetes and cancer. Methods: Using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we matched patients with type 2 diabetes between 1988 and 2019 to patients without type 2 diabetes. Poisson regression models were fit to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer. In secondary analyses, we determined whether the strength of the association varied with calendar time and whether patients with type 2 diabetes had a higher incidence of being diagnosed with multiple cancers during the follow-up period. Results: 890, 214 patients with type 2 diabetes were matched to an equal number of patients without type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes had a higher cancer incidence than patients without type 2 diabetes (IRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.18–1.21). The IRR was higher 2010 onwards (IRR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.23–1.28) compared with the association in previous years. Overall, patients with type 2 diabetes had a 5% higher incidence of being diagnosed with multiple cancers (IRR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04–1.07). Conclusions: The results of this large population-based study indicate that type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of several cancers.