Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Utilizing data from the National Health Insurance Sharing Service database, this study explored significant risk factors for pancreatic cancer in a cohort of 1,120,377 South Korean individuals over a 10-year period (2009-2019). METHODS: Propensity score matching was employed to ensure comparability between 3535 pancreatic cancer patients and a control group with a common cold diagnosis. The study analyzed various lifestyle factors and biochemical markers, including smoking status, alcohol consumption, fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels, liver enzyme levels, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores. RESULTS: The findings revealed that current smoking, frequent alcohol consumption, and elevated levels of FBS and liver enzymes were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Conversely, engaging in high-intensity exercise (≥ 20 min, twice weekly) was correlated with a 20% reduction in pancreatic cancer risk (p < 0.05). Additionally, optimal thresholds for total cholesterol (179.50 mg/dL), GGT (29.50 U/L), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (104.50 mg/dL), and CCI score (2.50) were identified, which may facilitate early diagnosis and intervention. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors in managing pancreatic cancer risk and highlight the potential of personalized, evidence-based interventions-such as high-intensity exercise programs-in improving prevention and treatment outcomes.