Association between metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein, and the risk of primary liver cancer: a large prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are known to be associated with an increased incidence of different cancers. We aimed to evaluate the effect of MetS combined with high hs-CRP levels on the risk of primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Kailuan cohort study and were classified into four groups according to the presence or absence of MetS and inflammation (hs-CRP ≥ 3 or < 3 mg/L). The associations of MetS and inflammation with the risk of PLC were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: This study included 92,770 participants. The mean age was 51.4 years old. Over a median follow-up of 13.02 years, 395 participants were diagnosed as PLC. Compared to the control participants without inflammation (hs-CRP < 3 mg/L) and MetS (n = 69,413), participants with high hs-CRP levels combined with MetS (n = 2,269) had a higher risk of PLC [hazard ratios (HR) 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77–4.81], and participants with high hs-CRP levels and without MetS (n = 14,576) had the same trend (HR, 1.36; 95%CI, 1.05–1.75). However, participants with low hs-CRP levels and MetS (n = 6,512) had no significant association with an elevated risk of PLC (HR, 1.18; 95%CI, 0.76–1.82). After excluding participants who had cancer during the first year of follow-up, sensitivity analysis showed the same trend. In addition, co-occurrence of MetS and high hs-CRP levels had significant interactive effects on the risk of PLC between the sexes (P < 0.001) and the patients with HBV infection (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Participants with co-occurrence of MetS and high hs-CRP levels have an elevated risk of PLC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Kailuan study, ChiCTR–TNRC–11001489. Registered 24 August, 2011-Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=8050 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09939-w.