Background: A few studies have analyzed the role of lifetime anthropometric measures on laryngeal cancer risk.
Patient and methods: This relation was investigated using a multicentre case-control study from Italy, conducted between 1992 and 2000, and including 460 incident, histologically confirmed laryngeal cancer cases, and 1088 controls admitted to the same network of hospitals as cases for acute, non neoplastic condition. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from multiple logistic regression, including terms for major confounding factors, such as physical activity and energy intake.
Results: An inverse association with laryngeal cancer risk was found for body mass index (BMI) in both sexes (OR for the lowest compared to the highest quintile was 1.47, 95% CI 0.93-2.33 in men and 8.11, 95% CI 1.38-47.66 in women) and for BMI at age 50 years (OR=1.65, 95% CI 0.88-3.11) in men and 7.84, 95% CI 0.69-88.58 in women). An inverse association was also observed with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at diagnosis in men only (OR=4.56, 95% CI 2.62-7.95 for the lowest compared to the highest quintile).
Conclusions: This study supports the existence of a relation between leanness and laryngeal cancer risk. In particular, men with less abdominal fat (characterized by a lower WHR) had an increased risk of laryngeal cancer.