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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Nearly 4 in 10 prostate cancer patients develop metabolic syndrome within a year of starting ADT plus ARPI therapy, a large new study finds. The risk climbs steadily throughout the first 12 months, with men aged 70–79 facing the highest burden. Hypertension was the most common metabolic complication observed.
A large retrospective study published in JAMA Oncology reveals that men with prostate cancer who receive combined androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy face a significant and rapidly accumulating risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Drawing on data from over 16,900 patients across more than 1,800 U.S. hospitals, researchers found that MetS incidence climbed steadily throughout the entire first year of treatment.
Older patients bore a disproportionate burden — men aged 70–79 had the highest event rate and were significantly more likely to develop dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and MetS compared to younger patients. Hypertension emerged as the most common metabolic complication, while obesity risk appeared to decline with age. Exploratory findings also hinted at differences in metabolic outcomes depending on which ARPI was used.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As ADT-ARPI combinations become increasingly standard in prostate cancer care, clinicians need to proactively monitor and manage metabolic health — especially in older patients — to reduce the long-term cardiovascular and metabolic risks associated with these therapies.
