Smoking and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Polyps

Purpose: Tobacco is one of the risk factors in colon cancer and colon polyps. We have studied the connection between smoking and the risk of developing the colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps.
Materials and methods: Our study refers to patients with mucosal modifications at the colon level, hospitalized and colonoscopy investigated in the 1st Clinic of Gastroenterology, Tg Mures between 2008–2010.
Results: There were 193 patients with colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps compared with 206 control patients investigated in the same hospital. From the study group, 53 patients (27.46%) were ‘current smokers’ compared with ‘control patients’ 27 patients (13.10%). As a result of this comparison there was a significant association with an increased risk for colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps (OR = 2.77, CI: 1.64–4.67). It was also observed a significant increased tendency of the risk for the colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer in parallel with the increase of the number of smoked cigarettes per day and years of cigarette smoking (< 10 cigarettes/day – OR = 1.03, CI: 0.45–2.33; 10-20 cigarettes/day – OR = 4.47, CI: 1.73–10.55; > 20 cigarettes/day – OR = 5.41, CI: 2.13–13.72 and < 10 years of cigarette smoking OR = 1.41, CI: 0.63–3.16; 10–20 years of cigarette smoking OR = 3.63, CI: 1.46-8.98; > 20 years of cigarette smoking OR = 4.43, CI: 1.83–10.74).
Conclusions: A high exposure to cigarette smoking is strongly associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps.

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