title: Past medical history and pancreatic cancer risk: Results from a multicenter case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate risk factors that may be linked to pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a multicenter population-based case-control (823 cases, 1679 control patients) study with data collection by using a common protocol and questionnaire. Participating centers were located in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Poland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for confounding factors, a positive history of pancreatitis was associated with pancreatic cancer (odds ratio [OR], 4.68; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.23-9.84). The risk was especially high in heavy smokers (OR, 15.4; 95% CI, 3.18-74.9). Patients with diabetes had an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.60-2.91). The risk was highest in the first year after the development of diabetes (OR, 6.68; 95% CI, 3.56-12.6) and decreased over time. A history of allergy was associated with a reduced risk of pancreas cancer (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and patients with pancreatitis, particularly in heavy smokers, have an increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer. In addition to being risk factors, these conditions could be early manifestations of underlying pancreatic cancer. A history of allergy decreases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maisonneuve
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lowenfels
authors.forename: H Bas
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bueno-de-Mesquita
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghadirian
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baghurst
authors.forename: Witold A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Zatonski
authors.forename: Anthony B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duell
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffetta
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology