Prediabetes and the risk of lung cancer incidence and mortality: A meta‐analysis

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: There has been conflicting evidence regarding the role of prediabetes as a risk factor of lung cancer. A systemic review and meta‐analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between prediabetes and lung cancer incidence and mortality in general adult populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational studies relevant to the objective were found in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. By incorporating potential heterogeneity into the model, a randomized‐effects model was selected. RESULTS: Ten cohort studies were included. People with prediabetes were associated with a mildly increased risk of lung cancer incidence compared with controls with normoglycemia (risk ratio [RR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.18, P = 0.03; I(2) = 79%), which was mainly observed in men rather than in women (RR: 1.07 vs 0.99, P for subgroup difference < 0.001). Prediabetes was related to a higher risk of lung cancer mortality (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02–1.39, P = 0.03; I(2) = 52%), and the results were consistent in both men and women (P for subgroup difference = 0.67). The association between prediabetes and lung cancer incidence or mortality did not appear to be significantly affected by different definitions of prediabetes (P for subgroup difference = 0.27 and 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Prediabetes might be associated with a mildly increased risk of lung cancer incidence in men, but not in women. In addition, prediabetes may be related to a higher risk of lung cancer mortality in the adult population.