Postprandial Plasma Glucose With a Fasting Time of 4–7.9 h Is Positively Associated With Cancer Mortality in US Adults

Abstract

Aims

This study investigated the association of postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) with cancer mortality using a general cohort of US adults.

Materials and Methods

This cohort study included 14,860 US adults who attended the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1988 to 1994, with mortality being followed up until December 31, 2019. The explanatory variable was the level of plasma glucose, including PPG with a fasting time of 0–3.9 h (PPG_0–3.9h) and 4–7.9 h (PPG_4–7.9h), plasma glucose with a fasting time ≥8 h (PG_fasting), and plasma glucose at 2 h after oral glucose tolerance test (PG_2hOGTT). Plasma glucose-associated cancer mortality risk was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

A 1-natural-log-unit increase in PPG_4–7.9h was associated with a higher multivariate-adjusted risk for cancer mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 3.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50–7.00]. However, PPG_0–3.9h, PG_fasting, PG_2hOGTT, haemoglobin A_1c, and insulin were not significantly associated with cancer mortality. The positive association of PPG_4–7.9h with cancer mortality remained in those without a prior diagnosis of cancer.

Conclusions

High PPG_4–7.9h is associated with a higher cancer mortality risk in US adults. Lowering PPG_4–7.9h may reduce cancer mortality.