Metabolic Syndrome independently associated with increased susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma, finds study

A random-effects model was employed to account for heterogeneity, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the impact of study characteristics on the results. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot symmetry and Egger’s regression test. Results: Six studies were included, with 10 results extracted for the Meta-analysis. The findings indicated that MetS is an independent risk factor for kidney cancer (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31–1.59, P < 0.001).

Heterogeneity between studies was significant (Cochran’s Q test, P < 0.001; I2 = 83.7%), indicating substantial variability. Subgroup analyses revealed consistent associations across gender, follow-up duration, and MetS diagnostic criteria (P > 0.05), but significant variations by race and study design (P < 0.05). The funnel plot appeared symmetrical, and Egger’s regression test (P = 0.425) confirmed a low risk of publication bias.

MetS is independently associated with an increased susceptibility to RCC in the adult population, although the strength of this association varies across different study designs and regions due to the observed heterogeneity.

Reference:

Zhou, Y., Chen, Y., Yang, H. et al. Metabolic syndrome and increased susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma – a meta-analysis. BMC Nephrol 26, 102 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04013-6