Ovarian cancer epidemiology in Thrace, Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To report the differences in ovarian cancer prevalence between the two major ethnic groups (Christian Orthodox and Muslims) in Thrace, Greece.


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective study on 57 patients, aged 16-79 years, who were treated in our clinic for ovarian cancer.


RESULTS
The cumulative ovarian cancer prevalence in Thrace was 6.8/100,000 (5.5/100,000 for Christian Orthodox and 1.3/100,000 for Muslims). There were no statistically significant differences in most variables affecting the tumour itself. The statistical analysis of demographic risk factors revealed that the Christian population was more of a middle class profile, while the Muslim lifestyle sustained its cultural characteristics, a difference that could be related to the discrepancy observed in ovarian cancer prevalence among them.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall ovarian cancer prevalence in Thrace is lower than that reported for most developed countries and higher than that for most Asian countries. The variance in prevalence between Christian Orthodox and Muslims could possibly be attributed to the different major parameters in lifestyles.
Anastasiadis
P
P
Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Koutlaki
N
N
Skaphida
P
P
Perdikis
V
V
Liberis
V
V
Galazios
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies