Socioeconomic determinants as risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a case-control study in Iran

Our aim was to assess the association between different components of sociodemographic status and the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck after we had adjusted for the influence of the known behavioural risk factors of smoking and drinking alcohol. We selected 146 patients with histopathologically-confirmed SCC of the head and neck, and matched them for age and sex with 266 healthy controls for this case-control study. Personal details, occupation, socioeconomic status, smoking, and alcohol consumption were recorded. The association of sociodemographic variables with oral cancer was evaluated both separately and with a composite socioeconomic index. Chi squared tests, adjusted odds ratios (OR), and 95% CI were computed using logistic regression to estimate the effect. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the composite socioeconomic index (p