Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jul 13.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Cancer. 2004 Jan 20;108(3):433–442. doi: 10.1002/ijc.11540

TABLE II.

Relative Risks for Colon and Rectal Cancer in 87,733 Women in the Nurses’ Health Study and 46,632 Men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study

Categories
Sex
Male Female
Cases
  Colon 467 672
  Rectum 135 204
MVRR (95% CI)1,2
  Colon    1.00 0.63 (0.54, 0.73)
  Rectum    1.00 0.71 (0.54, 0.95)
Categories
    Family history of
    colorectal cancer
No Yes
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 550 122
    Rectum 176   28
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.86 (1.52, 2.26)
    Rectum    1.00 1.33 (0.89, 1.99)
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 378 89
    Rectum 119 16
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.69 (1.34, 2.14)
    Rectum    1.00 1.00 (0.59, 1.69)
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 928 211
    Rectum 295   44
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.81 (1.55, 2.10)
    Rectum    1.00 1.20 (0.87, 1.65)
Categories
    Height (inches)
p3
<62 63–64 65–66 67–81
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 131 193 188 160
    Rectum   42   71   53   38
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.18 (0.94, 1.48) 1.22 (0.97, 1.52) 1.48 (1.18, 1.88) 0.001
    Rectum    1.00 1.31 (0.89, 1.92) 1.05 (0.70, 1.58) 1.08 (0.70, 1.69) 0.96
<68 69–70 71–72 73–81
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 123 131 128 85
    Rectum   38   35   35   26
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.11 (0.87, 1.43) 1.28 (1.00, 1.65) 1.50 (1.13, 2.00) 0.004
    Rectum    1.00 0.92 (0.58, 1.46) 1.07 (0.68, 1.71) 1.42 (0.85, 2.35) 0.24
1 2 3 4
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 214 286 270 214
    Rectum   73   96   76   53
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.16 (0.98, 1.37) 1.24 (1.04, 1.46) 1.50 (1.25, 1.79) <.0001
    Rectum    1.00 1.14 (0.85, 1.52) 1.04 (0.76, 1.41) 1.18 (0.84, 1.64) 0.43
Categories
Body mass index (kg/m2)
p
<23 23–24.9 25–29.9 >30
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 210 141 207 113
    Rectum   56   46   68   34
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.10 (0.88, 1.36) 1.11 (0.91, 1.35) 1.28 (1.10, 1.62) 0.05
    Rectum    1.00 1.37 (0.92, 2.02) 1.40 (0.98, 2.01) 1.56 (1.01, 2.42) 0.04
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 57 119 225 51
    Rectum 24   42   55 11
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.33 (0.97, 1.83) 1.54 (1.15, 2.07) 1.85 (1.26, 2.72) 0.001
    Rectum    1.00 1.16 (0.70, 1.94) 0.93 (0.57, 1.53) 1.03 (0.49, 2.14) 0.70
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 267 260 432 164
    Rectum   80   88 123   45
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.14 (0.96, 1.36) 1.21 (1.04, 1.42) 1.39 (1.14, 1.69) 0.001
    Rectum    1.00 1.33 (0.98, 1.81) 1.21 (0.90, 1.62) 1.40 (0.96, 2.03) 0.11
Categories
Physical activity (quintiles of
MET hrs or equivalent)4
p
1 2 3 4 5
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 171 189 120 113 49
    Rectum   46   48   41   37 24
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.08 (0.88, 1.33) 1.00 (0.79, 1.26) 0.92 (0.72, 1.17) 0.73 (0.53, 1.01) 0.02
    Rectum    1.00 0.99 (0.66, 1.49) 1.24 (0.81, 1.90) 1.04 (0.67, 1.62) 1.28 (0.77, 2.12) 0.35
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 113 95 97 91 70
    Rectum   23 26 25 25 36
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.83 (0.63, 1.09) 0.92 (0.70, 1.20) 0.77 (0.57, 1.03) 0.71 (0.52, 0.96) 0.04
    Rectum    1.00 0.55 (0.30, 0.98) 0.79 (0.47, 1.34) 1.01 (0.61, 1.68) 0.95 (0.56, 1.60) 0.37
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 284 286 224 192 120
    Rectum   77   66   68   68   52
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.99 (0.84, 1.17) 0.99 (0.83, 1.18) 0.87 (0.72, 1.05) 0.75 (0.61, 0.94) 0.001
    Rectum    1.00 0.82 (0.59, 1.14) 1.06 (0.76, 1.48) 1.07 (0.77, 1.49) 1.14 (0.79, 1.65) 0.22
Categories
Total folate (mcg/day)
p
≤200 201–300 301–400 >400
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 168 232 97 175
    Rectum   35   79 30   60
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.95 (0.78, 1.17) 0.86 (0.66, 1.12) 0.82 (0.66, 1.03) 0.04
    Rectum    1.00 1.54 (1.03, 2.31) 1.28 (0.78, 2.12) 1.32 (0.86, 2.05) 0.94
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 20 99 132 216
    Rectum   5 30   37   63
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.73 (0.45, 1.19) 0.74 (0.46, 1.20) 0.72 (0.45, 1.16) 0.57
    Rectum    1.00 0.80 (0.31, 2.07) 0.70 (0.27, 1.82) 0.67 (0.26, 1.72) 0.43
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 188 331 229 391
    Rectum   40 109   67 123
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.91 (0.75, 1.09) 0.85 (0.69, 1.04) 0.82 (0.68, 0.99) 0.06
    Rectum    1.00 1.39 (0.96, 2.01) 1.15 (0.76, 1.74) 1.18 (0.80, 1.74) 0.83
Categories
Total calcium (mg/day)
p
<600 601–700 701–900 901–1,100 >1,100
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 147 93 172 126 134
    Rectum   48 23   56   32   45
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.09 (0.84, 1.42) 1.06 (0.85, 1.34) 1.04 (0.81, 1.33) 0.89 (0.69, 1.15) 0.25
    Rectum    1.00 0.75 (0.46, 1.24) 0.93 (0.63, 1.39) 0.67 (0.42, 1.07) 0.78 (0.50, 1.21) 0.25
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 102 68 113 66 118
    Rectum   22 21   33 23   36
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.87 (0.64, 1.19) 0.78 (0.59, 1.03) 0.75 (0.54, 1.03) 0.90 (0.68, 1.20) 0.72
    Rectum    1.00 1.23 (0.67, 2.25) 1.10 (0.58, 1.76) 1.21 (0.66, 2.22) 1.30 (0.74, 2.27) 0.34
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 249 161 285 192 252
    Rectum   70   44   89   55   81
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.99 (0.81, 1.22) 0.94 (0.79, 1.12) 0.93 (0.76, 1.13) 0.88 (0.73, 1.07) 0.17
    Rectum    1.00 0.89 (0.60, 1.30) 0.94 (0.68, 1.30) 0.83 (0.58, 1.21) 0.92 (0.65, 1.30) 0.66
Categories
    Beef, pork or lamb as a
    main dish (servings/day)
p
0 <3 per month 1 per week 2 to 4 per week 5 or more per week
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 13 70 194 270 123
    Rectum   4 24   58   93   24
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.22 (0.67, 2.22) 1.16 (0.66, 2.05) 1.20 (0.68, 2.11) 1.31 (0.73, 2.36) 0.44
    Rectum    1.00 1.37 (0.47, 3.97) 1.14 (0.41, 3.19) 1.37 (0.50, 3.80) 0.92 (0.31, 2.71) 0.52
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 30 100 139 166 32
    Rectum 10   27   42   49   7
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.53 (1.01, 2.33) 1.35 (0.89, 2.03) 1.44 (0.96, 2.18) 1.35 (0.80, 2.27) 0.70
    Rectum    1.00 1.27 (0.61, 2.66) 1.15 (0.56, 2.38) 1.27 (0.62, 2.63) 0.90 (0.34, 2.45) 0.86
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 43 170 333 436 155
    Rectum 14   51 100 142   31
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.43 (1.02, 2.02) 1.29 (0.92, 1.79) 1.37 (0.98, 1.90) 1.43 (1.00, 2.05) 0.25
    Rectum    1.00 1.28 (0.70, 2.34) 1.13 (0.64, 2.02) 1.30 (0.73, 2.32) 0.90 (0.47, 1.75) 0.55
Categories
    Processed meat
    (servings/day)
p
0 <3 per month 1 per week 2 to 4 per week 5 or more per week
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 220 169 125 110 44
    Rectum   67   61   34   33   7
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.96 (0.78, 1.18) 1.10 (0.81, 1.26) 1.21 (0.95, 1.53) 1.32 (0.95, 1.83) 0.02
    Rectum    1.00 1.13 (0.80, 1.61) 0.89 (0.58, 1.36) 1.18 (0.77, 1.81) 0.73 (0.33, 1.59) 0.77
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 122 144 89 75 37
    Rectum   35   34 37 21   8
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.01 (0.79, 1.30) 0.95 (0.71, 1.27) 0.96 (0.71, 1.30) 1.27 (0.87, 1.85) 0.37
    Rectum    1.00 0.88 (0.54, 1.44) 1.53 (0.94, 2.52) 1.05 (0.59, 1.86) 1.06 (0.48, 2.33) 0.87
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 342 313 214 185 81
    Rectum 102   95   71   54 15
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.02 (0.87, 1.19) 1.02 (0.85, 1.21) 1.13 (0.94, 1.37) 1.33 (1.04, 1.70) 0.008
    Rectum    1.00 1.05 (0.79, 1.40) 1.14 (0.83, 1.56) 1.15 (0.82, 1.63) 0.90 (0.52, 1.57) 0.93
Categories
Alcohol (grams/day)
p
0 <10 10 to 19 ≥20 Past
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 200 281 106 69 16
    Rectum   56   91   28   24   5
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.97 (0.81, 1.17) 0.99 (0.78, 1.27) 1.14 (0.86, 1.52) 0.64 (0.38, 1.07) 0.27
    Rectum    1.00 1.12 (0.80, 1.58) 0.96 (0.60, 1.54) 1.48 (0.90, 2.44) 0.72 (0.29, 1.81) 0.23
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 37 149 98 111 72
    Rectum 11   43 35   28 18
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.08 (0.75, 1.55) 1.27 (0.86, 1.86) 1.55 (1.05, 2.27) 1.32 (0.89, 1.98) 0.003
    Rectum    1.00 0.93 (0.47, 1.82) 1.31 (0.66, 2.62) 1.11 (0.54, 2.29) 1.06 (0.50, 2.27) 0.60
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 237 430 204 180 88
    Rectum   67 134   63   52 23
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.97 (0.82, 1.14) 1.04 (0.85, 1.26) 1.27 (1.03, 1.56) 1.02 (0.79, 1.32) 0.003
    Rectum    1.00 1.04 (0.77, 1.40) 1.07 (0.75, 1.55) 1.26 (0.85, 1.87) 0.93 (0.56, 1.54) 0.20
Categories
  Pack-years smoked before
    age 30
p
0 1 to 10 >10
NHS
  Cases
    Colon 302 256 91
    Rectum   99   77 27
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 0.97 (0.82, 1.15) 1.30 (1.03, 1.66) 0.06
    Rectum    1.00 0.91 (0.67, 1.23) 1.18 (0.76, 1.82) 0.57
HPFS
  Cases
    Colon 197 136 117
    Rectum   44   42   38
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon    1.00 1.00 (0.80, 1.25) 1.04 (0.82, 1.32) 0.79
    Rectum    1.00 1.42 (0.92, 2.19) 1.67 (1.07, 2.62) 0.04
COMBINED COHORT
  Cases
    Colon 499 392 208
    Rectum 143 119   65
  MVRR (95%CI)
    Colon 1.00 0.99 (0.86, 1.13) 1.13 (0.95, 1.34) 0.21
    Rectum 1.00 1.07 (0.83, 1.37) 1.30 (0.96, 1.77) 0.09
1

MVRR: Multivariate relative risk. Multivariate model adjusted for age, family history, bmi, physical activity, beef, pork or lamb as a main dish, processed meat, alcohol, calcium, folate, height, pack-years smoking before age 30, history of endoscopy and gender in combined cohort.

2

95% CI: 95% confidence interval.

3

p based on test for trend.

4

Physical activity categories in NHS calculated based on sweating or not and METS of primary activity reported in 1980. Medians of MET hr reported in 1986 used for test for trend. In HPFS, categories are quintiles of MET hr/week reported in 1986. Medians of quintiles used for test of trend.