Body Mass Index and Oral Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Nieto A, Sánchez M J, Martínez C, Castellsagué X, Quintana M J, Bosch X, Conde M, Muñoz N, Herrero R, Franceschi S
Primary Institution: International Agency for Research on Cancer
Hypothesis
Is body mass index (BMI) at various points in life related to oral cancer risk after accounting for smoking and drinking habits?
Conclusion
Low body mass index (BMI) is significantly associated with an increased risk of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Low BMI at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of oral cancer.
- Current smokers showed a strong association between low BMI and oral cancer risk.
- Low BMI was significantly related to oral cancer among ever-drinkers.
Takeaway
Being very thin can make you more likely to get mouth cancer, especially if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Methodology
A case-control study involving participants diagnosed with oral cancer and matched controls, assessing BMI at different life stages.
Potential Biases
Selection bias due to hospital controls and potential recall bias in self-reported weight and height.
Limitations
The study may be affected by bias and confounding, particularly in the selection of hospital controls and reliance on self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
Participants included both males and females, with a significant number of current smokers and alcohol drinkers among cases.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 2.27–5.82
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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