The Association between Lifestyle, Occupational, and Reproductive Factors and Colorectal Cancer Risk

OBJECTIVE: Association of lifestyle, reproductive and environmental factors has been investigated with increased risk of colorectal cancer in different studies. We explored evidence and investigated association between various risk factors and colorectal cancer. METHODS: This case- control study was conducted 155 colorectal cancer patients and 150 hospital-controls. We obtained detailed lifestyle, occupational, reproductive information from both groups. Chi-Square test and Logistic regression model were used to evaluate the risk factors of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The results showed that frequent intake of fruits, chicken, fish and alcohol drinking were associated with risk for colorectal cancer. Agricultural occupation (OR=7.003, 95% CI=2.19-22.38) and industrial exposure (OR=1.97, 95% CI=0.91-4.22) were associated significantly with risk for colorectal cancer. Regarding reproductive factors, women who reported less than 3 pregnancies was associated with an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma (OR=2.88, 95% CI=1.15-7.17). We did not find significant association between other reproductive factors and colorectal cancer risk in women after adjusting for demographic factors. CONCLUSION: In this case-control study we observed that agricultural occupation, industrial exposure and high consumption of fish and less than 3 pregnancies in women were associated with an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma.