Case-control study on oesophageal cancer in southern Thailand

A case-control study was conducted in southern Thailand to test the hypothesis that alcohol consumption, smoking, rubber processing and nutritional deficiency were risk factors for oesophageal cancer. Cases (n = 40) were recruited from patients admitted to the University Hospital, where the first interview took place. Age- and sex-matched controls (n = 129) were selected from closest neighbours of the case.

control ratio varied from 1:1 to 1:6, depending on the availability of controls. Logistic regression analysis gave a relative risk for drinking and smoking of 5.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1-15.1), whereas the relative risk for alcohol drinking only was 4.7 (95% CI = 0.5-42) and for smoking only was 1.6 (95% CI = 0.7-4). Data on dietary habits were not analysed because of great variation. Rubber processing was not a significant risk factor. It was concluded that combined alcohol and cigarette consumption are important risk factors for oesophageal cancer in southern Thailand.