Correlation between agricultural production, clinical and demographic variables and prostate cancer: An ecological study

Abstract

Risk factors involved in the etiology of prostate cancer are not well known. The objective of this study was to explore correlations among variables relating to agricultural production, the use of health services, food consumption and socio-demographic characteristics and prostate cancer mortality rates in Brazilian states. Univariate analysis of spatial data for investigation of global spatial autocorrelation in prostate cancer mortality rates in Brazilian states between 2005 and 2009 was conducted. Using bivariate analysis, the correlation between socio-demographic indicators, agricultural production data, variables related to the use of health services dietary intake variables and prostate cancer mortality rates were examined. The production of soybeans and corn were positively correlated with prostate cancer mortality. In multiple linear spatial regression, the variables that showed an association with mortality rates from prostate cancer were tons of soybeans produced (p = 0.030), proportion of the population aged 80 and over (p < 0.001) and consumption of beverages (p < 0.001). A positive correlation between tons of soybeans planted and mortality from prostate cancer was identified, suggesting the possible existence of an association between exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer.