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A prospective study of medical conditions, anthropometry, physical activity, and pancreatic cancer in male smokers (Finland)

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Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between several medical conditions, anthropometric measurements, occupational and leisure physical activity, and pancreatic cancer in a cohort of male Finnish smokers. Methods: We performed a cohort analysis of the 172 subjects who developed pancreatic cancer between 1985 and 1997 (median 10.2 years follow-up) among the 29,048 male smokers, 50–69 years old, who had complete baseline data and participated in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: We observed positive associations between pancreatic cancer risk and self-reported history of diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.17–3.50) and bronchial asthma (HR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.17–3.98). Men having combined occupational and leisure activity greater than at sedentary levels had reduced risk for the cancer; for example those with moderate/heavy activity in both settings showed a HR of 0.42 (95% CI 0.22–0.83). There were no significant associations with other self-reported illnesses, total or HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, height, weight, or body mass index. Conclusions: Our data suggest that diabetes mellitus and bronchial asthma predict the subsequent risk of developing pancreatic cancer in male smokers, and that greater physical activity may reduce the risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA

    Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon & Demetrius Albanes

  2. Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA

    Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon

  3. Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 6120

    Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon

  4. Executive Blvd. MSC 7026, Rockville, MD, 20852-7026, USA

    Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon

  5. National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    Pirjo Pietinen & Jarmo Virtamo

  6. Cancer Prevention Studies Branch, Center for Clinical Research, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA

    Philip R. Taylor

Authors
  1. Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon
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  4. Jarmo Virtamo
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  5. Demetrius Albanes
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Stolzenberg-Solomon, R.Z., Pietinen, P., Taylor, P.R. et al. A prospective study of medical conditions, anthropometry, physical activity, and pancreatic cancer in male smokers (Finland). Cancer Causes Control 13, 417–426 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015729615148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015729615148

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