Evaluation of obesity as a potential risk factor for cervical cancer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is considered a potential cause of several malignancies including endometrical cancer and breast cancer. We analyzed the relationship between obesity and cervical cancer to examine the role of obesity in developing cervical cancer and to prevent the cervical cancer. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 203 cervical carcinomas including 87 cervical adenocarcinoma and 116 cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients and as control group, 279 patients visiting severance hospital for PAP smear in the period 1994-2003. We analyzed medical records for patient characteristics and body mass index. The obtained data were analyzed using t-test, chi square test and logistic regression analysis by SPSS. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant risk factor in patient characteristics including body mass index between adenocarcinoma and control group. Between cervical squamous cell carcinoma and control group, patients age (odds ratio=0.952, p=0.06) and menopause status (odds ratio=2.420, p=0.02) were statistically significant risk factors. Body mass index was not significantly different among three groups (adenocarcinoma vs. control group, 23.0 +/- 3.4 vs. 22.4 +/- 3.2; squamous cell carcinoma vs. control group, 23.9 +/- 3.5 vs. 22.4 +/- 3.2). CONCLUSION: Our results were consistent with the concept that obesity was not a risk factor for cervical carcinoma. However menopause might be a potential risk factor in developing squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.