title: Risk factors for colorectal polyps: findings from a Greek case-control study.
abstract: There is a body of evidence showing that several lifestyle and dietary factors are associated with colorectal polyps' formation; however, the magnitude of this association in diverse populations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate this association in a Greek sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised of 52 subjects with histologically confirmed advanced colorectal polyps and 52 healthy controls. Data concerning lifestyle and dietary factors were collected using a validated questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals after adjustment for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity level (95% CI 0.032-0.953, P = 0.044) and consumption of yoghurt (95% CI 0.969-0.996, P = 0.024), cheese (95% CI 0.932-0.996, P = 0.030), fish (95% CI 0.782-0.964, P = 0.008), vegetables (95% CI 0.965-0.998, P = 0.029), and garlic (95% CI 0.005-0.671, P = 0.022) were inversely associated with colorectal polyps. Increasing age (95% CI 1.005-1.231, P = 0.039) and central obesity (95% CI 1.001-1.019, P = 0.025) were strongly associated with their presence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that a cluster of modifiable risk factors have significant impact on colorectal polyps' occurrence in Greek population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Panteleimon General Hospital, Nikea, Athens.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karagianni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merikas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Athanasopoulos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malgarinos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peros
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Triantafillidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires