Objective To evaluate the association between body mass index and mortality from overall cardiovascular disease and specific subtypes of cardiovascular disease in east and south Asians.Design Pooled analyses of 20 prospective cohorts in Asia, including data from 835 082 east Asians and 289 815 south Asians. Cohorts were identified through a systematic search of the literature in early 2008, followed by a survey that was sent to each cohort to assess data availability.

SUVlbm and SUVbsa are weight-independent indices for FDG uptake, and SUVlbm appears to be more appropriate for quantifying FDG uptake to avoid overestimation of glucose utilization in obese patients.

Aims/hypothesis The aims of the study were to evaluate the association between type 2 diabetes and the risk of death from any cancer and specific cancers in East and South Asians. Methods Pooled analyses were conducted of 19 prospective population-based cohorts included in the Asia Cohort Consortium, comprising data from 658,611 East Asians and 112,686 South Asians. HRs were used to compare individuals with diabetes at baseline with those without diabetes for the risk of death from any cancer and from site-specific cancers, including cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colorectum, colon, rectum, liver, bile duct, pancreas, lung, breast, endometrium, cervix, ovary, prostate, bladder, kidney and thyroid, as well as lymphoma and leukaemia. Results During a mean follow-up of 12.7 years, 37,343 cancer deaths (36,667 in East Asians and 676 in South Asians) were identified. Baseline diabetes status was statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of death from any cancer (HR 1.26;95% CI1.21, 1.31). Significant positive associations with diabetes were observed for cancers of the colorectum(HR 1.41;95% CI 1.26, 1.57), liver (HR 2.05;95% CI 1.77, 2.38), bile duct (HR 1.41;95% CI 1.04, 1.92), gallbladder (HR 1.33; 95% CI1.10, 1.61), pancreas (HR 1.53; 95% CI1.32, 1.77), breast (HR 1.72; 95% CI1.34, 2.19), endometrium (HR 2.73; 95% CI1.53, 4.85), ovary (HR 1.60; 95% CI1.06, 2.42), prostate (HR 1.41; 95% CI1.09, 1.82), kidney (HR 1.84; 95% CI1.28, 2.64) and thyroid (HR 1.99; 95% CI1.03, 3.86), as well as lymphoma (HR 1.39; 95% CI1.04, 1.86). Diabetes was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of death from leukaemia and cancers of the bladder, cervix, oesophagus, stomach and lung. Conclusions/interpretation Diabetes was associated with a 26% increased risk of death from any cancer in Asians. The pattern of associations with specific cancers suggests the need for better control (prevention, detection, management) of the growing epidemic of diabetes (as well as obesity), in order to reduce cancer mortality.

Ecological data indicate an increase in meat intake in Asian countries; however, our pooled analysis did not provide evidence of a higher risk of mortality for total meat intake and provided evidence of an inverse association with red meat, poultry, and fish/seafood. Red meat intake was inversely associated with CVD mortality in men and with cancer mortality in women in Asian countries.

Substantial increases in bone marrow FDG uptake are rapidly induced by CSF treatments and should not be misinterpreted as diffuse bone marrow metastases.