Abstract
In the time period 1996-2004, a case-control study on diet and cervical cancer was conducted at the National Cancer Institute in Uruguay. The study included 268 cases and 536 controls with non-neoplastic diseases. The foods and beverages in the food-frequency questionnaire were included in a factor analytic model. This method retained three factors which were labeled as the drinker, red meat, and prudent patterns. The model explained 60% of the variance. Whereas the red meat and drinker patterns were directly associated with the risk of cervical cancer (OR for red meat pattern 1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.86), on the other hand, the prudent pattern was inversely associated with cervical cancer (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.93). To our knowledge, this study was the first one using factor analysis in order to elucidate the role of the diet in relation with cervical cancer.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the third cancer site in frequency in Uruguay, following breast cancer and colorectal cancer
Whereas the red meat and drinker patterns were directly associated with the risk of cervical cancer (OR for red meat pattern 1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.86), on the other hand, the prudent pattern was inversely associated with cervical cancer
An early age at first intercourse and a high number of sexual partners were directly associated with risk of cervical cancer (OR for high number of partners 2.7, 95% CI 1.6-4.4)
Summary
Cervical cancer is the third cancer site in frequency in Uruguay, following breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Since traditional approaches to research into cervical cancer have been considered limited due to the high collinearity of individual foods or nutrients, we decided to use factor analysis in this study, in the view that it could offer a new approach in the etiology of cervical carcinoma This analytical method consists of reducing a large number of foods to a smaller number of factors [6], and has been employed to date in the study of numerous cancer sites [6,7,8,9,10]. We considered that this approach could offer new information regarding the role of diet in the etiology of cervical carcinoma
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
