Height and cancer incidence in the Million Women Study: prospective cohort, and meta-analysis of prospective studies of height and total cancer risk
2011

Height and Cancer Risk in Women

Sample size: 1297124 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Jane Green, Benjamin J Cairns, Delphine Casabonne, Lucy F Wright, Gillian Reeves, Valerie Beral

Primary Institution: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, UK

Hypothesis

Does height increase the risk of cancer across different sites and factors?

Conclusion

Taller women have a higher risk of developing cancer, with the risk increasing for most cancer sites.

Supporting Evidence

  • Taller women had a higher risk of total cancer incidence.
  • The relative risk for total cancer was 1.16 for every 10 cm increase in height.
  • Risk increased significantly for ten specific cancer sites.
  • Current smokers had a lower height-related cancer risk compared to never smokers.
  • Height-associated risks were consistent across different populations.

Takeaway

If you're taller, you might have a higher chance of getting cancer. This study looked at a lot of women to see how height affects cancer risk.

Methodology

The study used Cox regression models to analyze height and cancer incidence data from a large cohort of women.

Potential Biases

There may be biases related to self-reported data and the exclusion of certain demographics.

Limitations

The study may not account for all potential confounding factors and relies on self-reported height.

Participant Demographics

The study included middle-aged women from the UK, with a mean age of 56.1 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.14–1.17

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70154-1

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication