Abstract
BACKGROUND: The associations of metabolic conditions, chronic organ dysfunctions and acidic food consumption with the risk of gastrointestinal cancer are unknown among individuals with primary hypertension. We sought to identify risk factors for gastrointestinal cancer in this population. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study among individuals who had primary hypertension and were later diagnosed with a type of gastrointestinal cancer, and those who had primary hypertension and were not diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer at a local hospital from January 2020 to January 2024. We compared sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and medical characteristics between the groups using data extracted from electronic medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to find associations with risk factors. RESULTS: We identified 125 cases of gastrointestinal cancer and 544 controls who were cancer-free. There were significant associations between overall gastrointestinal cancer and hyperlipidemia (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.98-5.72), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.64-4.07), chronic renal failure (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.43-4.20), alcohol consumption (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.49-3.70), heart failure (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.36-3.33), and higher-grade hypertension (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.41-2.74). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study of patients who had primary hypertension, we identified several comorbid conditions as indicators for gastrointestinal cancer, including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, alcohol consumption, heart failure, and higher-grade hypertension.