OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of esophageal cancer (EC) in the high-incidence regions, so as to provide scientific evidence for taking effective prevention measures.

METHODSA population based case-control family study was carried out. 1711 case family members in 505 families in which one of the couple or their first degree relatives suffered from EC were selected from high incidence in Henan province. Control families without neoplasm were selected from the same villages in matching conditions of age, sex, and family members. All information of case and control families was collected by Questionnaire of Life and Health of Inhabitant. The data were analyzed with logistic regression model.

RESULTSCompared with the control families,it was shown that hobby for smoked food [2.10% (36/1711), 0.82% (14/1711); chi2 = 9.82, P = 0.00; OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.40 - 4.85], hobby for fried food [7.17% (66/921), 3.91% (35/894) ; chi2 = 9.13, P = 0.00; OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.24 -2.89], hobby for raw and hard food [13.36% (123/921), 8.95% (80/894); chi2 = 8.87, P =0.03; OR =1.57, 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.11], and hobby for hot food [20.05% (343/1711), 15.20% (260/1711); chi2 = 13.87, P= 0.00; OR= 1.40, 95% CI: 1.17 - 1.67], the history with mental stimulated [6.72% (115/1711), 3.10% (53/1711); chi2 = 24.06, P = 0.00; OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.62 -3.14], upper digestive symptom history [19.40% (332/1711), 12.74% (218/ 1711); chi2 = 28.15, P = 0.00; OR= 1.65, 95% CI: 1.37 - 1.99] entered the last model, and were responsible for the higher risk of EC. Eating fast was shown to be a protective factor [20.85% (192/921), 25.14% (225/895); chi2 = 4.73, P =0.03; OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63 - 0.98].

CONCLUSIONEC is a kind of malignant tumor caused by multiple factors. Prevention and control of EC should be initiated from environmental factors, life style, genetic factors and social-psychological factors comprehensively.