Higher insulin resistance is associated with gastrointestinal polyps in women and older adults

Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of developing certain cancers, particularly endocrine and gastrointestinal malignancies. However, the relationship between gastrointestinal polyps and insulin resistance has received relatively little attention. The current study explored associations between gastrointestinal polyps and insulin resistance using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Specifically, we conducted a cross-sectional study at a Northern Taiwan health examination center with 4,139 enrollees who underwent a health checkup, had complete data regarding HOMA-IR, and manifested gastrointestinal polyps from 2008 to 2018. The prevalence of gastrointestinal polyps tended to increase across HOMA-IR quartiles (P-trend = 0.04). However, compared with participants in the lowest quartile of HOMA-IR, those with higher HOMA-IR levels were not significantly associated with gastrointestinal polyps. In subgroup analyses, women in the highest quartile had a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal polyps than those in the lowest quartile [odds ratio (OR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.83]. Additionally, participants aged ≥ 60 years in the higher HOMA-IR quartiles had an increased odds of gastrointestinal polyps (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07-2.11 for Q2; OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.14-2.25 for Q3). Women and older individuals with higher HOMA-IR values were at a greater likelihood of gastrointestinal polyps. Primary care physicians should suggest endoscopic or abdominal sonography screening in high-risk populations.