Aims: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in pancreatic cancer patients and control subjects was compared.
Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 182 pancreatic cancer patients and 135 controls. The presence of diabetes was evaluated and the time period between the diagnosis of diabetes and pancreatic cancer was assessed. A subanalysis based on patient sex was conducted.
Results: Diabetes mellitus was present in 64 patients (35.2%) in pancreatic cancer group and in 27 patients (20.0%) in control group (χ(2) = 8.709; P = 0.003). In 18 patients (28.1% of diabetic pancreatic cancer patients) diabetes was new-onset. Diabetes was new-onset in 23.3% of females compared to 38.1% of males (χ(2) = 1.537; P = 0.215). The overall prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among female pancreatic cancer patients (25% versus 43.9%; χ(2) = 7.070, P = 0.008), while diabetes prevalence was equally represented in the control group patients (22.1% versus 17.2%; χ(2) = 0.484, P = 0.487).
Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in study group of pancreatic cancer patients was significantly higher when compared to control group. Pancreatic cancer patients with diabetes were predominantly females, while diabetes was equally prevalent among sexes in the control group. Therefore, patient sex may play important role in the risk stratification.