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INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. The objective of the present study was to determine and quantify important modifiable risk factors attributable to colorectal cancer, in order to explore the ways to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Goa, India. The study subjects were group matched for age and sex so as to include 110 cases and 110 controls. Only incident cases of colorectal cancer were recruited in the study. Predesigned structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection, while anthropometric measurements and laboratory investigations were conducted. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software package. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the institute. Informed written consent was obtained from the study participants. RESULTS: Smoking, smokeless tobacco use, alcohol consumption, red meat consumption, high body mass index (BMI), and the presence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus were found to be the risk factors for colorectal cancer on univariate analysis, while fruit and vegetable consumption were found to be the protective factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified Type 2 diabetes mellitus and high BMI as risk factors for colorectal cancer and consumption of fruits and vegetables as protective factors. CONCLUSION: Identification of risk factors for colorectal cancer would help in setting of colorectal cancer screening guidelines as well as for creating awareness regarding prevention of colorectal cancer among the general population.
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CONTEXT: Welding is pivotal in shipbuilding. The fumes and gases involved in welding may cause respiratory morbidity. AIM: To study the prevalence of respiratory morbidity (RM) among welders vis à vis among nonwelders and its association with certain relevant factors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 276 welders and 276 nonwelders was conducted in the shipbuilding industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interviewer-administered questionnaire was followed by spirometric examination. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Odds ratio and its 95% CI and two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Prevalence of RM was found to be significantly higher among welders compared to nonwelders (who were comparable in age, duration of employment (DOE) and smoking habits,) with odds ratio (OR) of 1.78 (95% confidence interval (CI):1.20-2.63). Obstructive type of RM was predominant in both welders (26% (n = 73)) and nonwelders (17% (n = 49)) with welders being at a significantly higher risk (OR = 1.66 (95%: 1.10-2.49)). RM was commoner after the 40 years of age or after 20 years of employment in both groups. Smoking was associated with RM among welders (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.24-1.75) as well as nonwelders (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 2.26-3.54). Work-related respiratory symptoms (WRRS) was not found to be related to RM (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.00-2.84). Consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was protective against RM in welders (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.28-0.37). CONCLUSION: Welders had a greater burden of RM and this was related to increasing age, DOE, smoking and inconsistent use of PPE. WRRS were not indicative of RM.