Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention guidelines and colorectal cancer incidence among African Americans and whites: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study

Guillaume Onyeaghala, Anna K. Lintelmann, Corrine E. Joshu, Pamela L. Lutsey, Aaron R. Folsom, Kimberly Robien, Elizabeth A. Platz, Anna E. Prizment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) cancer prevention recommendations is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in whites, but only 1 previous study has reported on this link in African Americans. This study assessed the association between the 2018 WCRF/AICR guidelines and CRC incidence in African Americans (26.5%) and whites (73.5%) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities prospective cohort (n = 13,822). Methods: A total of 368 incident CRC cases (268 among whites and 100 among African Americans) were identified between the baseline (1987) and 2012. A baseline adherence score was created for 7 WCRF/AICR guidelines (each contributing 0, 0.5, or 1 point to the score, with higher scores corresponding to greater adherence). Adherence scores were also categorized as tertiles (0.0-3.0, 3.5-4.0, and 4.5-7.0). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the total cohort and with stratification by race. Results: After adjustments for age, sex, race, center, smoking, education, intake of aspirin, calcium, total calories, diabetes status, and, in women, hormone replacement therapy, greater adherence was associated with decreased CRC risk. The HRs per 1-unit increment in score were 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.97) for the whole cohort, 0.89 (95% CI, 0.73-1.09) for African Americans, and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.77-0.99) for whites. Similar associations between higher adherence scores and decreased cancer risk were observed for men and women and for colon cancer but not for rectal cancer. Conclusions: Greater adherence to the cancer prevention recommendations appears to be associated with decreased CRC risk for both African Americans and whites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1041-1050
Number of pages10
JournalCancer
Volume126
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cancer prevention
  • colorectal cancer
  • diet
  • obesity
  • physical activity
  • prospective cohort

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention guidelines and colorectal cancer incidence among African Americans and whites: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this