Table 4.
Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs; unadjusted conditional logistic regression) for the association between low (Q1: < 576 pg/ml) or continuous serum ghrelin concentration and colorectal cancer in the ATBC Study by number of years between blood draw and diagnosis.
| Number of years from blood collection to cancer | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 10 years | 10–20 years | ≥20 years | ||||
| Cases | OR (95% CI)* | Cases | OR (95% CI)* | Cases | OR (95% CI)* | |
| Serum ghrelin < 576 pg/ml (Referent category: ≥ 576 pg/ml) | ||||||
| Colorectal cancer | 97 | 10.86 (5.01, 23.55) | 74 | 1.44 (0.62, 3.38) | 14 | 0.26 (0.11, 0.64) |
| Colon cancer | 57 | 21.00 (5.08, 86.75) | 37 | 1.67 (0.40, 6.97) | 9 | 0.33 (0.11, 1.03) |
| Rectal cancer | 40 | 6.80 (2.65, 17. 39) | 37 | 1.33 (0.46, 3.84) | 5 | 0.18 (0.04, 0.82) |
| Serum ghrelin: continuous1 | ||||||
| Colorectal cancer | 146 | 3.13 (2.17, 4.55) | 262 | 0.94 (0.81, 1.10) | 115 | 0.83 (0.70, 0.98) |
| Colon cancer | 84 | 3.85 (2.13, 7.14) | 143 | 1.00 (0.79, 1.27) | 57 | 0.81 (0.64, 1.02) |
| Rectal cancer | 62 | 2.56 (1.64, 4.17) | 119 | 0.90 (0.73, 1.12) | 58 | 0.85 (0.65, 1.10) |
1
Continuous ORs are scaled to 176 pg/mL, which is one half of the inter-quartile range in the controls (75th percentile – 25th percentile ÷ 2) and interpreted as the change per unit decrease in serum ghrelin.