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    Plasma Cell precursor and Other Disorders

    Category: Plasma Cell precursor and Other Disorders

    Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Increased MGUS Risk in a Large Korean Cohort

    (PA-350) Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Increased MGUS Risk in a Large Korean Cohort

    Friday, September 19, 2025

    Introduction:      Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a premalignant plasma cell disorder. Recent studies suggest a potential link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MGUS, with MetS possibly contributing to the risk and progression of MGUS through chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. However, the association between MetS and MGUS, particularly in large population-based cohorts, remains underexplored.

    Methods:   This study utilized data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), including 4,453,453 individuals, of whom 2,068 were diagnosed with MGUS. We compared baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between MGUS and non-MGUS populations and evaluated the risk of developing MetS using incidence rates (IRs) and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazards models.

    Results:   

    MGUS patients were older (mean age 60.4 vs. 48.1 years, p< 0.0001), more likely to be male (61.0% vs. 54.2%, p< 0.0001), and had a higher prevalence of metabolic abnormalities, including diabetes (24.9% vs. 9.9%), hypertension (53.6% vs. 27.2%), and chronic kidney disease (14.0% vs. 2.6%) (all p< 0.0001). MetS was associated with a significantly increased risk of MGUS (IR 8.77 vs. 3.72 per 1000 person-years). After adjusting for confounders, MetS remained an independent risk factor for MGUS (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.15–1.39). Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger association in males (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.25–1.57), younger adults aged 20–39 years (HR 1.94; 95% CI 1.27–2.96), and middle-aged adults aged 40–64 years (HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.21–1.55).

    Conclusions:   MetS and its components are associated with an increased risk of developing MGUS. These findings suggest that metabolic dysregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of MGUS, highlighting the need for metabolic monitoring in at-risk populations.