title: Body size and colorectal cancer risk after 16.3 years of follow-up: an analysis from the Netherlands Cohort Study.
abstract: A large body size may differentially influence risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by anatomic location. The Netherlands Cohort Study includes 120,852 men and women aged 55-69 years who self-reported weight, height, and trouser/skirt size at baseline (1986), as well as weight at age 20 years. Derived variables included body mass index (BMI; weight (kg)/height (m)(2)), BMI at age 20 years, and BMI change. After 16.3 years of follow-up (1986-2002), 2,316 CRC cases were available for case-cohort analysis. In men, the highest risk estimates were observed for body fat (per 5-unit increase in BMI, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.46; for highest quintile of trouser size vs. lowest, HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.29 (P-trend = 0.02)) and appeared more closely associated with distal colon tumors (for BMI (5-unit increase), HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.79; for highest quintile of trouser size, HR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.55, 4.24 (P-trend < 0.01)) than with proximal colon or rectal tumors. In women, body fat was not associated with CRC risk unless it was considered simultaneously with physical activity; a large trouser/skirt size and a low level of physical activity increased risk for all subtypes. Height was associated with risk of CRC, especially distal colon tumors (highest quintile vs. lowest: HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.27; P-trend = 0.05), in women only.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Science, MaastrichtUniversity, Maastricht, the Netherlands. laura.hughes@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Laura A E
authors: LA
authors: Hughes
authors: Colinda C J M
authors: CC
authors: Simons
authors: Piet A
authors: PA
authors: van den Brandt
authors: R Alexandra
authors: RA
authors: Goldbohm
authors: Manon
authors: M
authors: van Engeland
authors: Matty P
authors: MP
authors: Weijenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology