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. 2001 Mar;84(5):709–713. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.1999.1597

Betel quid chewing as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study

J F Tsai 1, L Y Chuang 2, J E Jeng 3, M S Ho 4, M Y Hsieh 1, Z Y Lin 1, L Y Wang 1
PMCID: PMC2363779  PMID: 11237396

Abstract

The role of betel quid chewing in the aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated in a case–control study including 263 pairs of age- and sex-matched HCC patients and healthy controls. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were determined, and standardized personal interview conducted using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate analysis indicated that betel quid chewing (odds ratio (OR), 3.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.74–6.96), HBsAg (OR, 16.69; 95% CI, 9.92–28.07), anti-HCV (OR, 38.57; 95% CI, 18.15–81.96), and educational duration of less than 10 years (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.05–2.78) are independent risk factors of HCC. In addition, there was an additive interaction between betel quid chewing and chronic infection with either hepatitis B virus (synergy index, 5.37) or hepatitis C virus (synergy index, 1.66). Moreover, risk on HCC increased as duration of betel quid chewing increased, or amount of betel quid consumed (each P for trend < 0.0001). © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Keywords: betel quid chewing, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, risk factor

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Selected References

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