Serum CA19-9 as a predictor of incident metabolic syndrome in men over 50 years of age with obesity: a 9-year cohort study

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundThe tumor marker carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 is elevated in cancer and chronic diseases. However, the status of CA19-9 in metabolic syndrome (MetS), a common chronic disease in Asia, has not been thoroughly investigated. MethodsFrom 2007 to 2015, 1750 participants were retrospectively reviewed, and their routine health checkup data were obtained. The participants were divided into three groups based on their CA19-9 level. Their body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and blood pressure were determined. Blood samples were collected from individuals after fasting for 8 h to determine biochemical parameters and tumor markers. MetS was defined according to the revised National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III. Association between CA19-9 levels and incident MetS was evaluated using Cox regression models.ResultsThe group with the highest CA19-9 level tended to exhibit incident MetS (p = 0.002, HR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.39–4.27), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001, HR = 4.27, 95% CI 2.07–8.12) after adjusting for covariates. The group with the highest CA19-9 level showed a significant correlation with the incidence of all MetS components: high systolic blood pressure (≥130 mm Hg; p < 0.001, HR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.50–4.00); high waist circumference (≥90 cm; p < 0.001, HR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.46–3.60); high fasting plasma glucose levels (≥100 mg/dL; p = 0.001, HR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.33–3.18); low high-density lipoprotein levels (≤50 mg/dL; p = 0.001, HR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.39–3.60); and high triglyceride levels (≥150 mg/dL; p = 0.001, HR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.40–3.48). Subgroup analyses of age, sex, and BMI-specific groups revealed that participants with obesity (BMI ≥ 24) in the highest CA19-9 tertile, male, and ≥ 50 years of age were significantly associated with incident MetS (p = 0.002, HR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.39–4.69; p = 0.001, HR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.28–2.76; and p = 0.002, HR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.44–5.25, respectively). ConclusionsOur results revealed a positive correlation between CA19-9 levels and MetS in men over 50 years of age with obesity.