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Introduction: Background: colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent tumors in terms of incidence and mortality. Several elements, both inherited and environmental, have been related with its pathogenesis. Aims: to analyze the influence of age, gender and nutritional factors on the diagnosis of colonic polyps and CRC. Methods: a prospective, descriptive study over outpatients from the Health Area of León who took a colonoscopy between 09/09/2012 and 06/30/2013. Patients were asked to fill a semiquantitative food frecuency questionnaire with data such a sociodemographic, toxic and dietetic facts. Differences in diagnosis according to sociodemographic and hygiene-dietetic data were analyzed with a multivariate analysis by forward stepwise logistic regression. Results: data were collected from 1390 patients. Mean age was 57.88 (15.17) years and 47.8 % were male. CRC was diagnosed in 5 % of colonoscopies, and polyps in 20.4 %, with 9.4 % of them being HRA. Risk of polyps and HRA was higher in males (26.9 % vs 14.5 %) and (12.6 % vs 6.3 %), respectively (p < 0.001). Mean age was significantly higher in patients who presented polyps (56.51 (15.45) vs 63.22 (12.69) years; p < 0.001). Among the group who reported intake of smoked and salted food, the risk of polyps doubled (2.9 % vs 6.7 %, p = 0.002). In relation to alcohol intake we found that subjects with daily alcohol consumption showed a higher incidence of polyps whe compared to occasional drinkers and teetotallers (32 % vs 20 % vs 18.6 %, p = 0.002) Conclusions: age correlated with higher risk of polyps, HRA and CRC. Moreover, male gender also was associated with a high risk of polyps and HRA. Alcohol and red and processed meat intake increased polyp risk.

Background: There is an excess incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and mortality from this disease in the health area of Leon. The aim of the present study was to determine trends in CRC and its geographical distribution., Methods: Cases included in the Hospital Registry of Tumors of the Centro Asistencial Universitario de León from 1994-2008 and occurring in patients residing in the health area of Leon were studied. Time trends were evaluated with a Poisson regression model. To analyze geographical distribution, the smoothed relative risks (RR) of the municipalities adjusted by the Besag, York and Mollié model were calculated, and their subsequent probability of an RR>1 (PP) was calculated using Bayesian methods., Results: A total of 4,136 cases were included. Rates standardized to the European standard population ranged from 49.6 (1994-6) to 63.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in men (2006-8) and from 29.6 to 33.8 in women. An annual 2% increase was found for all localizations, ranging from 1.8% in the rectum to 3.6% in the proximal colon. In all localizations, the increase was greater in men than in women. Several municipalities in the health area of Leon showed an excess risk. The geographical pattern observed was due especially to the distribution of colon cancer., Conclusions: The incidence rates observed were high and were increasing. Special attention should be paid to CRC in the health area of Leon, mainly in the municipalities with excess risk., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEEH y AEG. All rights reserved.)

Colorectal cancer is the most common tumor behind lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Its prevalence shows a wide geographic variability, which, along with epidemiological and experimental evidence, suggests a considerable participation of environmental factors, mainly dietary in its cause. It is not known which dietary components have an undisputed influence on the risk of colorectal cancer, nor how they condition the different genetic susceptibilities of the individuals. However, we do know of the protective action that consuming vegetables has, and the increased risk associated with saturated fats and red meats, especially when associated with other factors like a hypocaloric diet, obesity, sedentary life, or the use of alcohol. Fiber, however, has not proven the risk reducing properties that were attributed to it by epidemiological studies, possibly because this term encompassed several very different substances. Moreover, it is very difficult to know the effect of an isolated nutrient as these are intimately entwined in the foods. It should be kept in mind that many substances, like plants, as well as the usual nutrients, contain a large number of components with unknown effects and that the manner in which the foods are prepared or eaten, no doubt are of influence. A healthy lifestyle with regard to the risk of colorectal cancer, should no doubt include the consumption of large amounts of vegetables and whole cereals, a limit of the caloric intake with fats not exceeding 30%, to eat fish and chicken rather than red meat, to avoid alcohol, and to regularly partake of physical exercise.