Table 2.
Association of cervical squamous cell cancer with self-reported history of allergies, Seattle Metropolitan Area, 1986–1998
| Controls (n=1258) |
SCC Cases (N=561) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergy History | n | (%) | n | (%) | OR* | (95% CI) |
| Any allergy | 750 | (59.6) | 299 | (53.3) | 0.7 | (0.6–0.9) |
| Airborne allergies | 445 | (35.4) | 134 | (23.9) | 0.6 | (0.5–0.7) |
| Pollen | 397 | (31.6) | 117 | (20.9) | 0.6 | (0.5–0.8) |
| Grasses | 115 | (9.1) | 25 | (4.5) | 0.6 | (0.3–0.8) |
| Trees | 77 | (6.1) | 12 | (2.1) | 0.3 | (0.2–0.6) |
| Ragweed | 14 | (1.1) | 3 | (0.5) | 0.6 | (0.2–2.0) |
| Dust | 177 | (14.1) | 50 | (8.9) | 0.6 | (0.4–0.9) |
| Mold | 112 | (8.9) | 29 | (5.2) | 0.6 | (0.4–0.9) |
| Antibiotic allergies | 244 | (19.4) | 96 | (17.1) | 0.9 | (0.7–1.1) |
| Penicillin | 129 | (10.3) | 58 | (10.3) | 1.1 | (0.8–1.5) |
| Sulfa drugs | 107 | (8.5) | 40 | (7.1) | 0.8 | (0.5–1.2) |
| Food allergies | 185 | (14.7) | 61 | (10.9) | 0.7 | (0.5–0.9) |
| Milk | 40 | (3.2) | 13 | (2.3) | 0.7 | (0.4–1.4) |
| Chocolate | 23 | (1.8) | 6 | (1.1) | 0.6 | (0.2–1.5) |
| Shellfish | 21 | (1.7) | 6 | (1.1) | 0.6 | (0.2–1.6) |
| Wheat | 21 | (1.7) | 1 | (0.2) | 0.1 | (0.0–0.8) |
| Citrus fruit | 18 | (1.4) | 8 | (1.4) | 0.9 | (0.4–2.1) |
| Eggs | 14 | (1.1) | 3 | (0.5) | 0.5 | (0.1–1.7) |
| Animal allergies† | 181 | (14.4) | 56 | (10.0) | 0.7 | (0.5–1.0) |
| Cats | 129 | (10.3) | 35 | (6.2) | 0.6 | (0.4–1.0) |
| Dogs | 57 | (4.5) | 13 | (2.3) | 0.5 | (0.3–1.0) |
| Bee sting | 27 | (2.1) | 12 | (2.1) | 0.9 | (0.5–1.9) |
*
Adjusted for age at reference date, smoking (never, former, current), number of lifetime sex partners.
†
Includes allergies to cats, dogs, horses, cows, rabbits, bee stings, and responses of “other” or “all animals.”