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Body mass index, physical activity and the risk of pancreatic cancer in relation to smoking status and history of diabetes: a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan–The JPHC study

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Abstract

Objective

The effects of BMI and physical activity on the risk of pancreatic cancer were investigated in a large population-based cohort study in Japan (JPHC study). In particular, we explored how these effects were influenced by smoking status and a history of diabetes.

Methods

In total, 99,670 participants (47,499 men, and 52,171women) were followed for an average of 11 years through the end of 2003. Hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

A total of 224 incident cases (128 men, 96 women) of pancreatic cancer were identified. A statistically significant excess risk of pancreatic cancer was associated with current smoking (HR = 1.8, CI 1.1–3.0) and a history of diabetes (HR = 2.1, CI 1.3–3.5) among men. A similar increase in risk associated with current smoking (HR = 2.0, CI 0.9–4.4) and diabetes (HR = 1.5, CI 0.7–3.5) was also seen among women. BMI was inversely associated with risk of pancreatic cancer among men, especially among current male smokers or diabetes patients, but no association was found among women. Leisure-time physical activity was not associated with risk in either men or women.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the association between cigarette smoking, history of diabetes and increased risk of pancreatic cancer. However, our data suggest that the association between BMI and risk of pancreatic cancer in this Japanese population may be different from that in Western populations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the Cancer Research and Third-Term Comprehensive Control Research for Cancer from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Welfare of Japan. J.L. was partly supported by the SVENSKA SÄLLSKAPET FÖR MEDICINSK FORSKNING (SSMF) and the Karolinska Institutet Travel Fund.

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Correspondence to Manami Inoue.

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Members of the JPHC Study Group (principal investigator: S. Tsugane): S. Tsugane, M. Inoue, T. Hanaoka and T. Sobue, National Cancer Center, Tokyo; J. Ogata, S. Baba, T. Mannami and A. Okayama, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita; K. Miyakawa, F. Saito, A. Koizumi, Y. Sano and I. Hashimoto, Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Public Health Center, Ninohe; Y. Miyajima, N. Suzuki, S. Nagasawa, Y. Furusugi and N. Nagai, Akita Prefectural Yokote Public Health Center, Yokote; H. Sanada, Y. Hatayama, F. Kobayashi, H. Uchino, Y. Shirai, T. Kondo, R. Sasaki, Y. Watanabe and Y. Miyakawa, Nagano Prefectural Saku Public Health Center, Saku; Y. Kishimoto, E. Takara, T. Fukuyama, M. Kinjo, M. Irei and H. Sakiyama, Okinawa Prefectural Ishikawa (Chubu) Public Health Centre, Ishikawa; K. Imoto, H. Yazawa, T. Seo, A. Seiko, F. Ito and F. Shoji, Katsushika Public Health Center, Tokyo; A. Murata, K. Minato, K. Motegi and T. Fujieda, Ibaraki Prefectural Kasama (Mito) Public Health Centre, Mito; K. Matsui, T. Abe and M. Katagiri, Niigata Prefectural Kashiwazaki Public Health Center, Kashiwazaki; M. Doi, A. Terao and Y. Ishikawa; Kochi Prefectural Tosayamada (Chuo-higashi) Public Health Center, Tosayamada; H. Sueta, H. Doi, M. Urata, N. Okamoto and F. Ide, Nagasaki Prefectural Arikawa (Kamigoto) Public Health Center, Arikawa; H. Sakiyama, N. Onga and H. Takaesu, Okinawa Prefectural Miyako Public Health Center, Hirara; F. Horii, I. Asano, H.Yamaguchi, K. Aoki, S. Maruyama and M. Ichii, Osaka Prefectural Suita Public Health Center, Suita; S. Matsushima and S. Natsukawa, Saku General Hospital, Usuda; S. Watanabe and M. Akabane, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo; M. Konishi and K. Okada, Ehime University, Matsuyama; H. Iso, Osaka University, Osaka; Y. Honda and K. Yamagishi, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba; H. Sugimura, Hamamatsu University, Hamamatsu; Y. Tsubono, Tohoku University, Sendai; M. Kabuto, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba; S. Tominaga, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya; M. Iida and W. Ajiki, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, Osaka; S. Sato, Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion, Osaka; N. Yasuda, Kochi University, Kochi; S. Kono, Kyushu University, Fukuoka; K. Suzuki, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels, Akita; Y. Takashima, Kyorin University, Mitaka; E. Maruyama, Kobe University, Kobe; M. Yamaguchi, Y. Matsumura and S. Sasaki, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo; and T. Kadowaki, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan.

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Luo, J., Iwasaki, M., Inoue, M. et al. Body mass index, physical activity and the risk of pancreatic cancer in relation to smoking status and history of diabetes: a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan–The JPHC study. Cancer Causes Control 18, 603–612 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9002-z

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