Open AccessBody mass index, body shape, and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population‐based case–control study in Southern China
Author(s) -
Feng Ruimei,
Chang Ellen T.,
Liu Zhiwei,
Liu Qing,
Cai Yonglin,
Zhang Zhe,
Chen Guomin,
Huang QiHong,
Xie ShangHang,
Cao SuMei,
Zhang Yu,
Yun Jingping,
Jia WeiHua,
Zheng Yuming,
Liao Jian,
Chen Yufeng,
Lin Longde,
Ernberg Ingemar,
Huang Guangwu,
Zeng Yi,
Zeng YiXin,
Adami HansOlov,
Ye Weimin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.2027
Subject(s) - underweight , body mass index , overweight , odds ratio , medicine , obesity , population , demography , logistic regression , confidence interval , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , case control study , environmental health , sociology , radiation therapy
Whether the association between body size or shape and nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC ) risk exists or varies by age‐specific body size indicators is unclear. In a population‐based case–control study conducted in Southern China between 2010 and 2014, self‐reported height, weight, and body shape at age 20 and 10 years before interview were collected from 2448 histopathologically confirmed NPC cases and 2534 population‐based controls. Body mass index ( BMI ) was categorized according to the World Health Organization guidelines for Asian populations: underweight (<18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (18.5‐22.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (23.0‐27.4 kg/m 2 ), and obese (≥27.5 kg/m 2 ). Multivariate odds ratios ( OR s) with 95% confidence intervals ( CI s) were estimated using logistic regression. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline analysis was employed to examine nonlinear effects of BMI and body shape as continuous covariates. Underweight vs normal weight at age 20 years was associated with a 22% decreased NPC risk ( OR , 0.78; 95% CI , 0.67, 0.90), whereas obesity was not significantly associated with NPC risk. Associations with BMI 10 years before the interview were similar. Having the leanest body shape at age 20 years, compared with the mode was not significantly associated with NPC risk ( OR , 0.85; 95% CI , 0.62, 1.16), but having a larger body shape was associated with an elevated risk ( OR , 1.25; 95% CI , 1.03, 1.52). Increasing BMI revealed positive trends with NPC risk. Despite some indication of significant findings, evidence for a strong association between BMI or body shape and NPC risk is still limited.