Components of socioeconomic risk associated with head and neck cancer: A population-based case-control study in Scotland

Conway, D. I. , McMahon, A. D. , Smith, K., Black, R., Robertson, G., Devine, J. and McKinney, P. A. (2010) Components of socioeconomic risk associated with head and neck cancer: A population-based case-control study in Scotland. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 48(1), pp. 11-17. (doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2009.03.020)

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Abstract

The complex associations between socioeconomic circumstances and risk for head and neck cancer are under-explored. We investigated components of social class and their relative influence on the risk of head and neck cancers by studying 103 patients (age range 24-80 years) who had been diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck between April 2002 and December 2004, and 91 controls who were randomly selected from general practitioners' lists. Information about occupation, education, smoking, and alcohol consumption was collected at personal interview. Socioeconomic circumstances were measured at an individual level (education, occupational social class, unemployment), and by area-based measures of deprivation. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (0) were computed using unconditional logistic regression and multivariate analyses. People living in the most deprived areas (OR = 4.66, 95% CI 1.79-12.18); and those who were unemployed (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.21-4.26) had a significantly higher risk of cancer than those with high levels of educational attainment (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.05-0.58). Significance was lost for all measures of social class when adjustments were made for smoking and consumption of alcohol. Smoking was the only significant risk factor (OR = 15.53, 95% CI 5.36-44.99) in the multivariate analysis. A high risk of head and neck cancer was consistently associated with poor socioeconomic circumstances, and there were strong links for specific components however smoking dominated the overall profile of risk. We propose a framework for future socioeconomic analyses.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:AGE ALCOHOL ASSOCIATION CANCER Case-control study DIGESTIVE-TRACT Epidemiology ETIOLOGY Head and neck cancer HIGH-RISK INEQUALITIES INTERVAL LEVEL ORAL-CANCER RISK risk factors RISK-FACTOR SES SMOKING Socioeconomic SURGERY
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Conway, Professor David and McMahon, Dr Alex and Devine, Dr John
Authors: Conway, D. I., McMahon, A. D., Smith, K., Black, R., Robertson, G., Devine, J., and McKinney, P. A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
Journal Name:British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Publisher:Elsevier Ltd.
ISSN:0266-4356
Published Online:28 May 2009
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