Lifetime body mass index and risk of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer by smoking and drinking habits

Abstract

The influence of body mass index (BMI) on oral cancer risk was evaluated in 375 incident cases and 375 age-gender-matched hospital-based controls, Low BMIs at diagnosis and 2 years before diagnosis were associated with significantly elevated odds ratios (OR for BMI ≤22 vs >26 kg m -2; 3.64; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.27-5.82 and 3.31; 95% CI: 2.04-5.39, respectively). The association with low BMI, however, tended to be weaker and nonsignificant among never smokers and never drinkers. © 2003 Cancer Research UK.