The Relationship between Some Risk Factors and Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers of gastrointestinal system. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between some of less-studied life style risk factors, sleep quality and the level of physical activity, with colorectal cancer.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran. 50 newly diagnosed patients with colorectal cancer were entered from admitted patients considering as the patient group, 42 firstdegree relatives of them as 1st healthy group, and 58 admitted patients without any cancer diagnosis (randomly selected) as the 2nd healthy group. Demographic characteristics, smoking, alcoholic beverages and carbonated drinks intake, fast food consumption, physical activity level [based on International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form] and sleep quality (based on Pittsburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire) were collect by the researcher. Variables were analyzed using chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests, then variables with P-value of less than 0.250 were analyzed through multivariate logistic regression model, and the odds ratio (OR) of each factor was calculated.

Age, level of education, and body mass index (BMI), as well as no history of diabetes mellitus and positive history of cholecystectomy were higher in the patient group than in the two healthy groups; but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.050). Male gender was significantly associated with OR of colorectal cancer in patient group compared with both healthy groups (OR = 2.86 and OR = 3.57 with 1st and 2nd healthy groups, respectively).

The risk of colorectal cancer is higher in men than in women.