title: Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in Catalonia, Spain.
abstract: The influence of hepatitis B virus infection, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and use of oral contraceptives on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated in a hospital-based case-control study in Catalonia, in the Mediterranean coastal area of north-eastern Spain. A total of 96 HCC cases (86.5% of them with associated liver cirrhosis) and 190 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. The odds ratio of HCC and 95% confidence interval among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers was 4.9 (1.3-21.9). The OR was not significantly elevated in smokers, and a marginally significant increased risk was found among users of oral contraceptives based on 6 female cases. There was a significant dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of HCC (chi 2 for trend: 24.3, p less than 0.001). Although hepatitis B infection was strongly associated with HCC, alcohol abuse leading to cirrhosis appears to be one of the main causes of HCC in this region.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Mayans
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Calvet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruix
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruguera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estève
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bru
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral