The sense of coherence and incidence of cancer--role of follow-up time and age at baseline

We studied the effect of the sense of coherence (SOC) on cancer incidence, the role of age at baseline, and the length of the follow-up in that association.

Five thousand eight hundred sixty-six middle-aged men initially in working life were followed up for 12 years after measurement of the SOC. The relative risks (RRs) of cancer were estimated using Cox regression models.

For all cancers combined in 8-year follow-up, those with a weak SOC had a higher RR of cancer 1.52 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-2.06] than those with a strong SOC. However, the effect weakened in 12-year follow-up (RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.93-1.42). The greatest risk was seen in a subcohort consisting of those aged >or=55 years at baseline with a weak SOC: the RR was 1.65 (1.12-2.43) in 8-year follow-up and 1.40 (1.05-1.85) in 12-year follow-up.

A strong SOC seemed to delay the onset of cancer more clearly among men over 55 years of age.