Case-control study of risk factors for prostate cancer

Our plain-English summary of Case-control study of risk factors for prostate cancer, by M. Ilić, H. Vlajinac, J. Marinković (British Journal of Cancer, 1996).

The study

• Authors: M. Ilić, H. Vlajinac, J. Marinković
• Journal: British Journal of Cancer
• Published: 1996;74(10):1682-6
• Cited by: 74 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

One hundred and one patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer and 202 hospital controls individually matched by age (+/- 2 years), hospital admittance and place of residence, were interviewed during the period 1990-94 in two towns in central Serbia (Yugoslavia). In an analysis using multivariate logistic regression, the followng factors were significantly related to prostate cancer: (1) occupational physical activity during the year preceding the disease [odds ratio (OR)=3.87, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=2.09-7.16]; (2) occupational exposure to asbestos, steel, dyes and lacquers, bitumen, pitch, iron, nickel, lead, fertilizer and certain other agents (OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.05-4.32); (3) nephrolithiasis (OR=4.52, 95% CI=1.34-15.30); (4) 'other' diseases in medical history such as chronic bronchitis, chronic rheumatic diseases, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, renal diseases, eye diseases and tuberculosis (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.56-6.33); (5) a greater number (> or = 3) of brothers (OR=2.08, 95% CI=1.35-3.22); and (6) greater numbers (> or = 8) of sexual partners (OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.13-4.44). Marital status, age at first marriage, educational level, age at first sexual intercourse, frequency of sexual intercourse, venereal diseases, tonsillectomy, appendectomy, hernia inguinale and hydrocele, anthropometric characteristics, smoking history, sport and recreational activities and family history of prostatic neoplasms were not found to be independently related to prostate cancer.

In plain English

This hospital-based case-control study was carried out in two towns in central Serbia (then Yugoslavia). The authors interviewed 101 men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer diagnosed in 1990-94 and 202 hospital patients without prostate disease, matched by age, hospital admittance and place of residence. Asbestos was not studied separately. It was one of many agents in a single combined category of workplace exposure, alongside steel, dyes and lacquers, bitumen, pitch, iron, nickel, lead and fertilizer. This exposure was reported by 24 of 101 cases (23.8%) and 25 of 202 controls (12.4%). In the adjusted analysis it was associated with prostate cancer (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.05-4.32). Also associated were work-related physical activity in the year before the disease, kidney stones, certain 'other' diseases, having three or more brothers and having eight or more sexual partners. Smoking was not independently related. The authors noted that the wide variety of agents made it impossible to investigate their separate relevance. They also noted that some associations might be explained by variables not included in the study.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Hospital-based case-control study with individual matching, analysed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression
• Who was studied: 101 men with histologically confirmed incident prostate cancer diagnosed January 1990 to December 1994 in Kragujevac and Cuprija, central Serbia (out of 141 eligible), and 202 hospital controls without prostate cancer, other prostate disease or other malignancies, matched by age (within 2 years), hospital admittance and place of residence
• Exposure: A single combined category, 'specific occupational exposure', covering asbestos, steel, dyes and lacquer, bitumen, pitch, iron, nickel, lead, fertilizer and other agents; asbestos was not analysed separately. Other factors examined included occupational physical activity, sexual history, medical history, smoking, body size and family history
• Main results:
  • Specific occupational exposure (including asbestos) was reported by 24 of 101 cases (23.8%) and 25 of 202 controls (12.4%); the difference was significant in univariate analysis (P=0.012)
  • In multivariate analysis, specific occupational exposure was associated with prostate cancer: odds ratio 2.13, 95% CI 1.05-4.32 (P=0.036)
  • Occupational physical activity during the year preceding the disease (15 cases, 14.9%, vs 5 controls, 2.5%) had a multivariate odds ratio of 3.87, 95% CI 2.09-7.16
  • Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), reported by 10 cases (9.9%) and 5 controls (2.5%), had a multivariate odds ratio of 4.52, 95% CI 1.34-15.30
  • 'Other' diseases in the medical history (such as chronic bronchitis, chronic rheumatic diseases, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus): multivariate odds ratio 3.14, 95% CI 1.56-6.33
  • Having three or more brothers: multivariate odds ratio 2.08, 95% CI 1.35-3.22
  • Eight or more sexual partners were reported by 24.9% of cases and 12.9% of controls; multivariate odds ratio 2.24, 95% CI 1.13-4.44
  • There was no significant difference between cases and controls in smoking habits or in the number and type of cigarettes smoked
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that, in their study, the combined occupational exposure was a risk factor for prostate cancer, but that the range of agents prevented them from studying each one separately
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Exposure to a wide variety of agents made it impossible to investigate the separate relevance of each (including asbestos)
  • Controls may have been more ill than cases in the previous year, which could explain the physical activity finding
  • The case group was not large enough for the family history association to be found independent
  • Some associations may be secondary, caused by variables not included in the study

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Case-Control Study, Odds Ratio, confidence interval, Occupational Exposure, Hydrocele, Neoplasm.

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