Colorectal cancer and its risk factors among patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Southern Karnataka, India

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the association between certain sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with colorectal cancer. Methods: This case–control study was conducted using a pre-designed questionnaire among 100 incident colorectal cancer patients and 200 unmatched controls attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Karnataka. Cases and the controls were interviewed, and details regarding their sociodemographic factors were collected. Information on lifestyle factors such as dietary habits, physical activity levels, and substance use were documented. They were also assessed for the presence of existing comorbidities and family history of colorectal and other cancers. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between various risk factors and colorectal cancer. Results: In the present hospital-based study, mean age of the participants was <55 years. About 63% of the cases and 54.5% of the controls were males. On multivariable analysis, age ≥50 years (odds ratio [OR]=1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.02-3.45), low physical activity (OR=5.66; 95% CI=3.10-10.34) and low frequency of fruits consumption (OR=4.10; 95% CI=2.21-7.50), and hypertension (OR=4.65; 95% CI=1.32-16.44) showed a positive association with colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Promoting healthy dietary practices and physical activity among the middle-aged population appears to be significant in the context of colorectal cancer prevention in the Indian subcontinent.