Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 are associated with risks of chronic diseases and death

Relationships between the concentration of circulating IGFBP-7 and risk of disease and mortality have been suggested by small-scale investigations. In this prospective study, we investigated these relationships among 53,003 UK Biobank participants. Higher IGFBP-7 level was significantly associated with increased risk for liver cancer, all-cause mortality, diabetes, and other diseases. Associations were robust across sex and age groups and persisted over long follow-up. IGFBP-7 polygenic risk scores also predicted cancer and mortality risk. IGFBP-7 level was strongly correlated with levels of previously identified aging-related proteins, but after adjustment for these proteins, remained associated with risk of bladder cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, all-cause mortality, liver-related mortality, and diabetes. Our findings indicate IGFBP-7 as a novel biomarker of mortality and disease risk.