Association between esophageal cancer in middle-aged and elderly patients and body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio

ObjectiveThis study determined the relationship between esophageal cancer in middle-aged and elderly patients and body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).MethodsA hospital-based case-control study was adopted. Two hundred eighty-two patients who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer through clinical endoscopy, X-ray examination, or histopathologic evaluation, and underwent surgery or received chemotherapy were enrolled as cases. The control group consisted of 282 patients without any cancers or esophageal diseases who were hospitalized during the same period in the same hospital. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using standard survey forms, and the height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured to calculate the BMI and WHR. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between the patient BMI and WHR and esophageal cancer were estimated using a multi-factor logistic regression model.ResultsThere was no statistical difference between the case and control groups with respect to age, gender, occupation, educational background, place of residence, and history of high blood pressure (P>0.05); however, there were more cases who smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol than controls (P