OBJECTIVE: Kelantan in Malaysia has a high prevalence of diabetes and colorectal cancer is also on the rise. This study is to determine the association of metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes type 2 [DM2] and hypertension, with colorectal cancer patients in our population.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on all colorectal carcinomas in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) in Kelantan from ythe ears 2001-2006. The data were retrieved from the Registry in Pathology laboratory and the clinical details from the patients' clinical records and analyzed using SSPS Version 12.0, with a value of p<0.05 taken to be statistically significant.
RESULTS: 138 CRC cases with complete clinical records were included. The age ranged from 16.0 to 88.0 years, with a mean of 56.9 -/+ SD 15.4. The male 90(65%) to female 48(35%) ratio was 1.7:1.0 and 47.8% were suffering from metabolic diseases; 18(13.0%) with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2(DM2), and 48(34.8%) with hypertension (HT). Diabetes Type 2 and hypertension also demonstrated significant association (p<0.05) with the stage and the site of the cancer. Patients with diabetes type 2 88.8%(16/18) and Hypertension 85.4% (41/48) were strongly associated with cancers located in the distal to transverse colon (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of metabolic diseases; hypertension and diabetes type 2 among colorectal carcinomas seen in Kelantan population. In this preliminary study we noted a strong association of metabolic diseases with the stage and site of the cancer. To reduce CRC incidence, the high prevalence of DM2 in Kelantan needs to be addressed.