title: Esophageal Cancer and associated Factors among Uzbek-Turkmen and Other Ethnic Groups in the Northern Part of Afghanistan
abstract: Background: A high incidence rate of esophageal cancer has been observed in the Northern part of Afghanistan,
  particularly among those of Uzbek-Turkmen ethnicity. However, there is a paucity of published data from which to
  compare the prevalence of environmental risk factors for esophageal cancer between Uzbek-Turkmen and other ethnic
  groups. Thus, we investigated the prevalence of environmental risk factors associated with esophageal cancer in the
  Northern part of Afghanistan, focusing on ethnicity differences. Methods: This retrospective study covered 168 patients
  diagnosed with esophageal cancer based on endoscopic findings when attending an outpatient clinic from October
  2013 to April 2016. Demographic data and burden of relevant environmental risk factors were compared between
  Uzbek-Turkmen and other ethnic groups. Results: In the total of 168 patients (108 Uzbek-Turkmen and 60 other
  ethnicities), males had significantly higher rates of opium use, chewing nass (a mixture of tobacco, ash and lime), and
  smoking than female patients. The mean age of the Uzbek-Turkmen group was 62.9 years, while that of the other ethnic
  group cases was 59.1. The prevalence of opium use, chewing nass and hot tea consumption was significantly higher in
  the Uzbek-Turkmen group. Conclusions: This study showed that there were significant differences in prevalence of
  opium, nass, and hot tea consumption between Uzbek-Turkmen and the other ethnic group patients with esophageal
  cancer in the northern part of Afghanistan.
authors.affiliation: Curative Clinic, Andkhoy, Afghanistan. Email:hashem.sahab@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hamrah
authors.forename: Mohammad Shoaib
authors.initials: MSh
authors.lastname: Hamrah
authors.forename: Mitsuro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Mohammad Hussain
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hamrah
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hami
authors.forename: Ahmad Edris
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hamrah
authors.forename: Ahmad Elias
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dahi
authors.forename: Mohammad Hashem
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hamrah
keywords: Esophageal cancer; risks factors; ethnic; Afghanistan