Association of anthropometric characteristics with the risk of malignant lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma in a Japanese population: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Although Asian and Western populations differ markedly in anthropometric characteristics and the incidence of malignant lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma, few studies have evaluated the associations between these variables among Asian populations.

METHODS

We conducted a large-scale, population-based prospective study in a Japanese cohort that included 45,007 men and 49,540 women ages 40 to 69 years at baseline. During an average follow-up period of 13 years, 257 cases of malignant lymphoma and 88 of plasma cell myeloma were identified. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated with the use of a Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Compared with the 1st quartile, categorization in the 4th quartile for height showed a positive association with lymphoid neoplasm risk (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.00-1.91), and the association was significant among men (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.11-2.66). A similar trend was observed for subcategories of malignant lymphoma, plasma cell myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, albeit the associations were weak due to the small number of subjects in each category. In contrast, weight and body mass index were not associated with risk of lymphoid neoplasm.

CONCLUSIONS

Height was positively associated with risk of lymphoid neoplasm in a Japanese population.

IMPACT

Our data suggested that early life exposure to growth-related hormones, such as insulin-like growth factors and growth hormones, or genetic factors relating to height may affect the risk of lymphoid neoplasm.