title: Environmental, lifestyle, and anthropometric risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancer in cuba: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is low in people of African origin and higher in populations living on islands, but there is no well-established explanation for these differences. Cuba is a multiethnic nation with people of African and Spanish descent. Until now, no study on the risk factors of DTC has focused on the Cuban population. Our aim is to establish the role of environmental and lifestyle factors and to relate anthropometric measurements to the risk of developing DTC in Cuba.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case-control study of 203 DTC patients treated in two hospitals in Havana and 212 controls living in the area covered by these hospitals (i.e. parts of Havana and the municipality of Jaruco). Risk factors were analyzed using conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As has been shown by other studies, we found that non-African ethnicity, never smoking, parity, and high body mass index are risk factors significantly associated with DTC, whereas a history of exposure to ionizing radiation and level of education were not significantly related with disease development. Being rhesus factor-positive, having a personal history of benign thyroid disorder, agricultural occupation, and consumption of artesian well water were also associated with a significantly increased risk of developing DTC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The original findings reported here concern the risk of DTC that was associated with non-African ethnicity, positive rhesus factor, farming, and drinking water from an artesian well.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lence-Anta
authors.affiliation: Radiation Epidemiology Group, 1018 INSERM Unit, Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France ; University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xhaard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Radiation Epidemiology Group, 1018 INSERM Unit, Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France ; University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Haoiinda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Celia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pereda
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Endocrinology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turcios
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Mae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chappe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Idalmis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Infante
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustillo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Radiation Epidemiology Group, 1018 INSERM Unit, Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France ; University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Enora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clero
authors.affiliation: Radiation Epidemiology Group, 1018 INSERM Unit, Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France ; University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Sirced
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: Cuban Health Public Ministry, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Regla
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Radiation Epidemiology Group, 1018 INSERM Unit, Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France ; University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Vathaire
keywords: Case-control study; Cuba; Differentiated thyroid cancer; Epidemiology; Risk factors