Education and Cancer Risk in a Large Cohort of Men and Women in the United States
Author Information
Author(s): Mouw Traci, Koster Annemarie, Wright Margaret E., Blank Madeleine M., Moore Steven C., Hollenbeck Albert, Schatzkin Arthur
Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Hypothesis
Does educational attainment affect the risk of developing various types of cancer in the United States?
Conclusion
Higher educational attainment is associated with a lower risk of developing many types of cancer, particularly smoking-related cancers.
Supporting Evidence
- Men with less than high school education had a significantly increased risk of developing various cancers compared to those with postgraduate education.
- Women with lower education levels had higher risks of colon, lung, and kidney cancers but lower risks of melanoma and breast cancers.
- Adjustment for smoking and other risk factors did not eliminate the associations between education and cancer risk.
Takeaway
People with less education are more likely to get certain types of cancer, especially those related to smoking, while those with more education tend to have a lower risk.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from the NIH–AARP Diet and Health Study, examining the association between education and cancer risk in a cohort of 498,455 participants aged 50-71.
Potential Biases
Potential residual confounding by smoking and other lifestyle factors.
Limitations
The study did not have information on H. pylori infection status and relied on self-reported data for some variables.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 50-71, with a diverse range of educational attainment and included both men and women.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI: various
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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