SALTED FISH AND INHALANTS AS RISK-FACTORS FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA IN MALAYSIAN CHINESE

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (6) , 2967-2970
Abstract
A case-control study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was conducted among Malaysian Chinese to test inhalants, salted fish consumption and use of tobacco, alcohol and nasal ointments as risk factors for the disease. Interviews with 100 cases and 100 controls indicated that salted fish consumption during childhood was a significant risk factor (relative risk, 3.0; P = 0.04); childhood daily consumption of this food item compared to nonconsumption carried a relative risk of 17.4 [95% confidence interval = (2.7, 111.1)]. Occupational exposure to smokes (relative risk, 6.0; P = 0.006) and to dusts (relative risk, 4.0; P < 0.001) was also significantly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The 2 risk factors (consumption of salted fish and exposure to smoke and/or dust) were independent of each other. There was no association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and tobacco, alcohol or nasal ointments.

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