The association between diabetes mellitus and the risk of anal cancer: results from a large nationwide cohort study in Taiwan
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Few studies have investigated the association between diabetes mellitus and risk of anal cancer and the results to date have been inconsistent. We analysed the relation between a history of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy and risk of anal cancer in a nationwide cohort in Taiwan.
Methods
Data from a retrospective cohort study of 5.9 million Taiwanese men and women aged 18–90 years were used for the analysis. Multivariable proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between diabetes diagnosis and diabetic retinopathy and risk of anal cancer.
Results
During a mean of 7.8 years follow-up, 2315 anal cancer cases occurred. The HRs (95% CIs) of anal cancer among persons with compared to those without a history of diabetes mellitus was 1.04 (0.95–1.13), and for persons with diabetic retinopathy vs. no diabetic retinopathy was 1.52 (1.20–1.92) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy vs. no proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 1.78 (1.27–2.50), respectively.
Conclusion
This large-scale cohort study provides evidence of no clear association between diabetes mellitus and anal cancer risk overall, however, there was indication of increased risk among persons with diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Additional large-scale cohort studies with more comprehensive risk factor data are needed to further clarify these findings.
Few studies have investigated the association between diabetes mellitus and risk of anal cancer and the results to date have been inconsistent. We analysed the relation between a history of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy and risk of anal cancer in a nationwide cohort in Taiwan.
Methods
Data from a retrospective cohort study of 5.9 million Taiwanese men and women aged 18–90 years were used for the analysis. Multivariable proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between diabetes diagnosis and diabetic retinopathy and risk of anal cancer.
Results
During a mean of 7.8 years follow-up, 2315 anal cancer cases occurred. The HRs (95% CIs) of anal cancer among persons with compared to those without a history of diabetes mellitus was 1.04 (0.95–1.13), and for persons with diabetic retinopathy vs. no diabetic retinopathy was 1.52 (1.20–1.92) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy vs. no proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 1.78 (1.27–2.50), respectively.
Conclusion
This large-scale cohort study provides evidence of no clear association between diabetes mellitus and anal cancer risk overall, however, there was indication of increased risk among persons with diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Additional large-scale cohort studies with more comprehensive risk factor data are needed to further clarify these findings.
Date Issued
2026-08-01
Date Acceptance
2026-06-26
Citation
Cancer Epidemiology, 2026, 103
ISSN
1877-7821
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Cancer Epidemiology
Volume
103
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.canep.2026.103155
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
103155
Date Publish Online
2026-06-29