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Obesity and the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (United Kingdom)

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and obesity.

Methods

A population-based case–control study recruited incident cases of lymphoma in England during 1998–2003. Information on height and weight was collected from 216 cases with a histologically confirmed incident diagnosis of HL and their age- and sex-matched controls.

Results

Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg m−2 or above at 5 years prior to diagnosis, increased the risk of HL more than 2-fold compared to those in the normal range of 18.5–<25 kg m−2 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 4.3). The association was more prominent among men (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.5) than women (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.3, 3.8). Elevated risks tended to be among older (aged 36–50 and 51–69) rather than younger persons (aged ≤35 years), and for EBV−ve, rather than EBV+ve, HL.

Conclusions

This study suggests that obesity may increase the risk of HL, particularly among men. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Leukaemia Research Fund of Great Britain. We thank all consultants, hospital staff, general practitioners, and interviewees who participated in the study. Our thanks also go to Andrew Jack and Sharon Barrans for confirming the patients’ diagnoses, to Sheila O’Connor for testing biopsies for EBV and to the study staff.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Seebohm Rowntree Building, University of York, YO10 5DD, UK

    Eleanor V. Willett & Eve Roman

Authors
  1. Eleanor V. Willett
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  2. Eve Roman
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Correspondence to Eleanor V. Willett.

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Willett, E.V., Roman, E. Obesity and the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (United Kingdom). Cancer Causes Control 17, 1103–1106 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0042-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0042-6

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