Background:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as a genetic and lifestyle disease, where lifestyle and environmental factors might contribute substantially to its etiology. Identifying modifiable risk factors would be crucial for prevention. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors for CRC.

Methods:

A case-control study was conducted at the Maadi Armed Forces Medical Complex (MAFMC) in Egypt in 2022, including 101 cases and 101 controls. All participants underwent a face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire to gather information about their sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, dietary and gastrointestinal habits, family, medical, and reproductive history, and occupational data. Regression analysis was done to model CRC as a function of the potential risk factors.

Results:

CRC was significantly associated with positive family history for CRC, not attaining higher education, not having a spouse, infrequent fruit and vegetable consumption, frequent consumption of processed meat, sedentary behavior and more than once per day bowel movement. The regression model correctly classified 72.3% of CRC cases and controls. Accordingly, four predictors of CRC were identified: a positive family history of CRC [OR = 8.70, 95% CI = 1.60, 48.8], sedentary behavior more than 6 hours per day [OR = 3.54, 95% CI = 1.60, 8.1], bowel movement more than once per day [OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.1, 4.1], and not attaining higher education [OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.3, 4.8].

Conclusion:

The study highlighted predictors of CRC to be considered in screening. Moreover, longitudinal multicentric studies with objective evaluations of exposures are required.