Interaction between known risk factors for head and neck cancer and socioeconomic status: the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study

We examined this using the North Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Study, a population-based case –control study. Incident cases of SCCHN from North Carolina between 2002 and 2006 (n = 1,153) were identified and age, sex, and race-matched controls (n = 1,267) were selected from driver license records. SES measures included household income, educational attainment, and health insurance. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Current smoking was more strongly associated with SCCHN among those households making<  $20,000/year [OR 5.11 (3.61–6.61)] compared to household incomes>  $50,000/year [OR 2.47 (1.69–3.25);p interaction  <  0.001]. Current drinking was more strongly associated with SCCHN in household incomes<  $20,000 [OR 2.91 (2.05–3.78)] compared to>  $50,000/year [1.28 (0.97–1.58);p interaction  <  0.001]. Current drinkers with less than high school education or income<  $20,000 had nearly threefold odds of never-drinkers in the same SES category [OR 2.91 (2.05–3.78); 2.09 (1.39–2.78), respectively]. Our results suggest that the relationship of smoking and alcohol use may be stronger among those of lower SES.
Source: Cancer Causes and Control - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research