Korean Journal of Insurance Medicine Vol. 12, No. 1 2017
대한임상보험의학회지 Vol. 12, No. 1 2017┃
57
Association between Body Mass Index and Incidence of Laryngeal Cancer: A Nationwide
Population-based Study
Young-Hoon Joo
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Objectives: The aim of this national population-based retrospective study was to analyze the relationship of body mass index (BMI) with incidence of laryngeal cancer.
Methods: Patients with laryngeal cancer (ICD-10: C32) between Jan 1, 2007 and Dec 31, 2008 were retrospectively identified from the Korean Health Insurance claims database. To be in- cluded in the study population, patients were required to have had a histological diagnosis within one year before treatment. Patients treated with prior radiotherapy, surgery, or chemo- therapy were excluded to reduce heterogeneity.
Results: The study cohort included 3,731 patients. Patients with underweight (BMI＜18.5kg/m2) were at higher risk for incidence of laryngeal cancer than normal weight (18.5kg/m2＜BMI＜
23kg/m2) (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.314; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.124–1.536) after adjusting for confounders. Patients with current smoker (HR, 2.313; 95% CI, 2.158–2.479) and ex-smoker (OR, 1.436; 95% CI, 1.313–1.569) were also at higher risk for incidence of laryngeal cancer.
Conclusion: Underweight was an independent risk factor for incidence of laryngeal cancer.
These findings suggest that underweight is associated with biological effects that contribute to the development of laryngeal cancer.
