Predictors of Remission and Relapse of Diabetes after Conventional Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: We investigated whether preoperative clinical parameters predict diabetes remission and relapse after conventional gastrectomy for cancer and whether postoperative weight changes influence diabetes remission and relapse. Study design: This study included 5,150 patients with diabetes who underwent gastrectomy for cancer from 2004 to 2014. Diabetes remission was defined in 3 ways, according to postoperative antidiabetic medication and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Diabetes relapse was defined as reinitiating antidiabetic medication among patients in diabetes remission. Results: Six predictors (higher body mass index [BMI], total gastrectomy, younger age, FPG levels, number of oral hypoglycemic agents [OHAs], and no insulin use) of diabetes remission increased the likelihood of remission by >13-fold (odds ratio [OR], 13.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.65‒19.11). Three factors (younger age, lower FPG levels, and use of only 1 OHA) predicted a 58% decreased likelihood of diabetes relapse (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% CI 0.35‒0.48). The lowest interval of postoperative BMI decrease (<-20%) showed a >3-fold increased likelihood of diabetes remission than the highest interval (≥-5%; OR 3.14; 95% CI 2.08‒4.75), independent of baseline BMI. Conclusions: Six variables (BMI, type of gastrectomy, age, FPG levels, number of OHAs used, and insulin use/non-use), and 3 variables (age, FPG levels, number of OHAs used) significantly predict diabetes remission and relapse after gastrectomy for cancer, respectively. Greater postoperative weight decrease may increase the likelihood of diabetes remission, independent of baseline weight. Our results may serve as a basis for the establishment of diabetes and weight management strategies after conventional gastrectomy for cancer.