Risk factors of bladder cancer in Spain

A case-control study was performed on 406 (353 males and 53 females) bladder cancer patients and 406 controls matched in age, sex and date of admission to the hospital. The questionnaire included questions about socio-economic status, residence, personal and familial histories of diseases, professional occupations, and habits such as cigarette smoking and consumption of coffee, artificial sweeteners, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and water. Up to three different exposures to occupational risks were taken into account. Data were studied by a discriminant analysis technique. The results suggest a multifactorial etiology for this disease. The factors increasing the risk of bladder cancer, listed in order of importance, were: total number of cigarettes smoked, history of urologic disease, second exposure to an occupational risk, use of artificially sweetened beverages, low consumption of water, family history of cancer, third occupational exposure to a risk, use of artificial sweeteners, and years of coffee drinking.