Relationship between a vegeterian diet and colorectal cancer in lima, peru Fuentes de financiamiento: este estudio fue financiado por la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos Conflictos de interés: los autores declaran no tener conflictos de interés. R

Authors

  • Hernán Sanabria-Rojas Médico infectólogo. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) e Instituto Nacional de Salud
  • Carolina Tarqui-Mamani Obstetra, Doctora en Salud Pública. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, UNMSM e Instituto Nacional de Salud
  • William Castro Garay Médico internista. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, UNMSM y Hospital Daniel Alcides Carrión
  • Javier Vargas-Herrera Médico-cirujano, Magíster en Epidemiología. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, UNMSM e Instituto Nacional de Salud
  • Javier Vargas-Herrera Médico-cirujano, Magíster en Epidemiología. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, UNMSM e Instituto Nacional de Salud
  • Ramiro Carbajal-Nicho Médico-cirujano. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, UNMSM y Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between the consumption of a vegetarian diet and colorectal cancer in adults at two hospitals in Lima. Material and methods: Am analytic case-control study, considering exposition as type of diet and colorectal cancer as the effect, was conducted in Lima, including 142 cases and 143 controls. The cases were adults with colorectal cancer, diagnosed by biopsy, while the control group consisted of adults without colorectal cancer treated at the same hospital, at the same time. Participants responded an instrument that was previously reviewed through a pilot study to evaluate comprehension of the items, and then adjustments were made, with the support of experts. Chisquared was calculated in a bivariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was constructed. Results: The median age was 62 years. The participants were predominantly women, and most had a high school education. The bivariate analysis showed that sex (X2 = 13.01; p value <0.01), educational level (X2 = 11.31; p-value = 0.01), and family history of cancer (X2 = 5.07; p-value = 0.02) were associated with Colorectal cancer; while consumption of NSAIDs (X2 = 0.009; p-value = 0.924), type of diet ((X2 = 0.60; p-value = 0.44)) and physical activity (X2= 0.46; p-value = 0.50) had no significant association. Logistic regression showed that the vegetarian diet was associated with colorectal cancer (OR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.59) and with age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89; 0.99). Conclusions: Vegetarian diet is a protective factor of colorectal cancer in the study population.

Keywords:

Colorectal Cancer, Vegetarian Diet, Epidemiology, Risk factors