Changing population characteristics, effect-measure modification, and cancer risk factor identification.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiologic studies have identified a number of lifestyle factors, e.g. diet, obesity, and use of certain medications, which affect risk of colon cancer. However, the magnitude and significance of risk factor-disease associations differ among studies. We propose that population trends of changing prevalence of risk factors explains some of the variability between studies when factors that change prevalence also modify the effect of other risk factors. We used data collected from population-based control who were selected as study participants for two time periods, 1991-1994 and 1997-2000, along with data from the literature, to examine changes in the population prevalence of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) use, obesity, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

SUBMITTER: Slattery ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2098767 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature