Development of a risk score predicting colorectal cancer among middle-aged Australian men and women

• Applicant: Dr. Annika Steffen
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2012 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221565447

Colorectal cancer (CRC) substantially contributes to cancer burden in Western countries and is thought to be largely preventable by modification of diet and lifestyle. The identification of high-risk individuals who would be most likely to benefit from lifestyle modification, a proven screening or surveillance strategy could substantially reduce the burden of CRC. Hence, a model summarizing the effect of single dietary and lifestyle factors to estimate an individual’s risk of CRC might be a valuable tool for clinical practice and/or medical research. A number of modifiable risk and protective factors have already been consistently and convincingly identified in epidemiologic studies, including physical activity, BMI, smoking, alcohol and the consumption of red and processed meat and dietary fiber. However, up to now, there is little research on the development of quantitative models summarizing the effect of multiple risk factors and estimating an individual’s absolute risk of CRC. Therefore, the aim of the present research project is to develop a simple, practical and informative risk score using easily assessable socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors predicting absolute risk of CRC among middle-aged men and women in the 45 and Up Study.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia
• Host: Professor David Roder