Sex-specific risk factors for oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Author Information
Author(s): Löfdahl H E, Lu Y, Lagergren J
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Hypothesis
Male predominance in oesophageal adenocarcinoma is due at least to established risk factors having a more harmful effect on men than women and that protective factors have a stronger preventive effect on women than men.
Conclusion
The study finds that exposures to reflux, obesity, and tobacco are stronger risk factors for oesophageal adenocarcinoma in women than in men.
Supporting Evidence
- Women showed a higher odds ratio for reflux symptoms compared to men.
- Obesity was a stronger risk factor for women than for men.
- Tobacco smoking was associated with a higher risk estimate in women than in men.
- Low intake of fruits and vegetables increased risk only in men.
- Helicobacter pylori infection had an inverse risk in men but not in women.
Takeaway
This study shows that both men and women are equally affected by certain risk factors for a type of esophageal cancer, and women might actually be more vulnerable to some of these risks.
Methodology
A nationwide Swedish case–control study involving interviews and analysis of established risk factors for oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported data and the retrospective nature of some exposure assessments.
Limitations
The study combined cases of oesophageal adenocarcinoma with gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma to increase sample size for women, which may affect the specificity of findings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 388 men and 63 women, with a male-to-female ratio of 7:1, primarily aged 70-79 years.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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