Body Size and Thyroid Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): M.T. Goodman, L.N. Kolonel, L.R. Wilkens
Primary Institution: Cancer Research Center, University of Hawaii
Hypothesis
Is there an association between body size, reproductive factors, and the risk of thyroid cancer?
Conclusion
The study found that higher weight, especially in late adulthood, is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in both men and women.
Supporting Evidence
- Weight in late adulthood was significantly associated with thyroid cancer risk.
- Men in the highest quartile of weight had a greater than five-fold increase in thyroid cancer risk.
- Women with more than a 14% increase in weight had an odds ratio of 2.6 for thyroid cancer.
Takeaway
Being heavier, especially as you get older, might make you more likely to get thyroid cancer.
Methodology
A population-based case-control study conducted on Oahu, Hawaii, comparing thyroid cancer patients with matched controls based on age and sex.
Potential Biases
Self-reported height and weight may lead to underreporting of weight and overreporting of height.
Limitations
The sample size was relatively small due to the low incidence of thyroid cancer, which may limit the power to detect differences.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 51 men and 140 women with thyroid cancer, and 113 male and 328 female controls, matched on age and sex.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.2-15.3
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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