Colorectal cancer risk factors: A multi-center, case-control study in Egypt

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most diagnosed cancers worldwide. This study aimed to define characteristics and risk factors (RFs) of CRC in Egypt. <h3>Methods</h3> A multi-center, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted. Two-hundred CRC patients and an equal number of controls were recruited. An interviewing, clinical examinations, investigations, medical and surgical data, and patients records were used to collect data. The study used logistic regression test for statistical analysis of data. <h3>Results</h3> Most of the CRC patients age was 40-≥60year. The commonest CRC symptoms were rectal bleeding (56.0 %) and abdominal pain/cramp (39.5 %). Significant medical and family history (FH)-RFs were precancerous colonic lesions, first-degree FH of CRC, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irregular-use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cholecystectomy, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (MLE-ORs = 8.57, 8.25, 7.07, 4.97, 3.74, 2.71; respectively). Significant dietary-RFs were high red- and processed-meats intake, low fibers intake, high salty-/spicy-foods intake, and high animal-fat intake (MLE-ORs = 4.97, 3.98, 3.04, 2.73; respectively). Significant personal lifestyle-RFs were coffee-use, physical inactivity (PiA), and alcohol- and/or beer-use (MLE-ORs = 6.95, 5.69, 4.92; respectively). Significant healthcare-RFs were non-compliance with medical follow-up and noncovered healthcare costs (MLE-OR = 3.72 and 3.7, respectively). Significant sociodemographic-RF was male-sex (MLE-OR = 2.86). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The most important RFs of CRC were precancerous colonic lesions, FH of CRC, IBD, coffee-use, PiA, and high red-meat intake. RFs of CRC are mostly preventable; targeted prevention strategies focusing on modifiable risk factors and screening can reduce CRC burden in Egypt. Following healthful lifestyle regarding diet, PiA, and compliance with follow-up are priorities.