Most Significant Risk Factors for Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

The Head and Neck Cancer is estimated to be one of the most prevalent cancers in the world. In Pakistan, Head and Neck Cancer accounts for 12.82% of all new cancers registered (1994-2004). The purpose of this research was to investigate the most significant risk factors of Head and Neck Cancer. The risk factors were analyzed in a case-control study of 58 Head and Neck Cancer patients and 130 controls. Patients were recruited over an eight months time period from Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Lahore, Pakistan. The Chi-Square test has been used to assess the statistical significant risk factors for the disease of Head and Neck Cancer. The multiple logistic regression model was used to get the most significant risk factors. The study shows that incidence of Head and Neck Cancer is due to five major risk factors: age odds ratio = 1.085 with 95% confidence interval (1.032, 1.140), smoking odds ratio= 99.624 with 95% confidence interval (6.558, 1513.309), chicken odds ratio = 15.997 with 95% confidence interval (1.526, 167.687), beef odds ratio= 13.535 with 95% confidence interval (1.400, 13.840) and soft drinks odds ratio=345.564 with 95% confidence interval (11.870, 10059.919).