title: [Clinical characteristics and risk factors of colon polyps in gyeongju and pohang area].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate various environmental factors for colon polyps and to analyze locoregional clinical characteristics of colon polyps in Gyeongju and Pohang area.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2005 to September 2006, patients who underwent colonoscopy were analyzed based on their ages, genders, body mass indices (BMI), dietary habits, smoking behaviors, accompaying diseases, and medications as risk factors for the occurrence of colon polyps. Then clinical manifestations, gross appearances and pathologic findings of polyps were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 253 patients enrolled, a total of 296 colon polyps were found in 108 patients. The incidence of colon polyps in more than 50-year old patients was 3.2-fold greater compared to less than 50-year old patients. Smoking habits were also significantly associated with the occurence of colon polyps. Among adenomatous polyps, tubulovillous type and moderate to severe dysplasia were frequently observed as the size increased, yet the location of polyps was not significantly associated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older age and smoking habit increase the risk of colon polyps. Rectal polyps have less chance to be adenomatous type. The larger the polyp grows, the more likely it to be tubulovillous and dysplastic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Chang Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires