Annals of Oncology, 08/04/2014 Clinical Article
Suh B, et al. – This study suggest that low AGR is a risk factor for cancer incidence and mortality, both short–term and long–term, in a generally healthy screened population. The results of this study need to be replicated in larger studies, along with the determination of the sensitivity and other diagnostic values of low AGR.
Methods
- This retrospective cohort study involved 26,974 generally healthy adults aged 30 or older who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center for self-referred health check-up.
- National medical service claims data was used to determine cancer incidence, and Korean death registry data was used to determine mortality.
- Median follow-up time for survival was 5.9 years (interquartile range 4.1 years).
Results
- Compared to subjects with AGR ¡A1.5, subjects with 1.1> AGR ¡A1.0 and 1.0> AGR showed aHR 2.69 (95% CI 1.54-4.72) and aHR 6.71 (95% CI 3.56-12.66) for all-cause mortality, aHR 2.95 (95% CI 1.42-6.11) and aHR 4.38 (95% CI 1.57-12.25) for cancer mortality, and aHR 2.07 (95% CI 1.28-3.36) and aHR 3.99 (95% CI 2.10-7.58) for cancer incidence, respectively.
- When cancer incidence events after 2 years from baseline were separately analyzed, subjects with 1.1> AGR ¡A1.0 and 1.0> AGR were associated with aHR 1.88 (95% CI 1.01-3.48) and aHR 2.55 (95% CI 1.03-7.11) for cancer incidence, respectively.
- Cancer events were increased in all types of cancer, but especially in liver and hematologic malignancies.
Ann Oncol. 2014 Jul 23. pii: mdu274. [Epub ahead of print]
Low Albumin to Globulin Ratio Associated with Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Generally Healthy Adults.
Suh B
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Chronic inflammation is known to be one of the main steps in carcinogenesis. Identification of those with chronic inflammation may help identify subjects at risk of cancer. Previous studies have reported low albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) to be associated with increased cancer mortality in cancer patients, but there has been no study based on healthy populations.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Our retrospective cohort study involved 26,974 generally healthy adults aged 30 or older who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center for self-referred health check-up. National medical service claims data was used to determine cancer incidence, and Korean death registry data was used to determine mortality. Median follow-up time for survival was 5.9 years (interquartile range 4.1 years).
RESULTS:
Compared to subjects with AGR ¡Ã1.5, subjects with 1.1> AGR ¡Ã1.0 and 1.0> AGR showed aHR 2.69 (95% CI 1.54-4.72) and aHR 6.71 (95% CI 3.56-12.66) for all-cause mortality, aHR 2.95 (95% CI 1.42-6.11) and aHR 4.38 (95% CI 1.57-12.25) for cancer mortality, and aHR 2.07 (95% CI 1.28-3.36) and aHR 3.99 (95% CI 2.10-7.58) for cancer incidence, respectively. When cancer incidence events after 2 years from baseline were separately analyzed, subjects with 1.1> AGR ¡Ã1.0 and 1.0> AGR were associated with aHR 1.88 (95% CI 1.01-3.48) and aHR 2.55 (95% CI 1.03-7.11) for cancer incidence, respectively. Cancer events were increased in all types of cancer, but especially in liver and hematologic malignancies.
CONCLUSIONS:
Low AGR is a risk factor for cancer incidence and mortality, both short-term and long-term, in a generally healthy screened population. The results of this study need to be replicated in larger studies, along with the determination of the sensitivity and other diagnostic values of low AGR.