Is There an Association Between Coronary Heart Disease and Colorectal Carcinoma? Results From a Pilot Study WAY. Hamoudi, D.L. Dumitrascu 3rd Medical Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca Abstract Aim, To study the putative association between coro- nary heart disease and colorectal carcinoma ‘Subjects. All patients with colorectal carcinoma diag- nosed in the 3rd Medical and Surgical Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Cluj in the first {6 months of 1996 were included in the study ‘Methods. Prevalence of coronary heart disease and of the main risk factors for both coronary heart disease and colorectal carcinoma: fat intake and smoking were esti- ‘mated and compared with similar data from an age and sex ‘matched control group. Results, 63 patients were diagnosed with colorectal car- cinoma, Coronary heart disease was detected in 58% of pa- tients with colorectal carcinoma and in 44.7% controls, ‘There was no statistical association between coronary heart disease and colorectal carcinoma (OR: 1.758). However, in ‘males over 60,a marginal statistical association was found between coronary heart disease and colorectal carcinoma (OR: 4500; p: 0.09). There was no difference between high fat intake, hyperlipoproteinemia and smoking between the two groups, Conclusion. There is no statistical association between colorectal carcinoma and coronary heart disease, nor be~ tween colorectal carcinoma and the main determinants of coronary heart disease. However, older males with coro- nary heart disease have a slightly elevated risk of colorectal carcinoma, Key words Coronary heart disease - colorectal carcinoma - risk fac- Romanian Journal of Gastoenterology Vol.6Na. 1 March 1997 Aasdres for corespondence: Wascem TY. Hamoudi MD 3 Medical Clinic StxCeoitlor no. 19-23 $3400 Ch Napoca, Romania Rezumat Scop. Studiul asocierit intre boala coronarian’ si cancerul colorectal Subiecfi: Toti pacientii diagnosticati cu cancer colorectal in Clinicile Medicala si Chirurgie IIT in primele sase luni ale anului 1996. Metoda. Frecventa bolii coronariene cardiace si principalii factori de rise pentru boala coronarian’ si cancerul colorectal. Consumul de grisimi si fumatul au fost evaluate si comparate cu un grup similar de martori. Rezultate, 63 de pacienti au fost diagnosticati cu cancer colorectal. Boala coronariand a fost detectaté la 56% din pacienti cu cancer colorectal si 44,7% din grupul de martori. Nu s-a gisit 0 asociere statistic semnificativa intre boala coronariand si cancerul colorectal (OR: 1,758). ‘Totusi, la pacientii de sex masculin in varsti de peste 60 de ani, aexistat 0 asociere statisticd intre boala coronariand si cancerul colorectal (OR: 4.500, p: 0,09). Nu a existat diferenté intre cele doua grupe in ceea ce priveste consumul de grisimi, hiperlipoproteinemia si fumatul ‘Concluzie. Nu exist 0 asociere statisticd global intre cancerul colorectal si boala coronariand, nici intre cancerul colorectal si principalii factori de risc pentru boala coronarian. Totusi, birbatii in varsti cu coronaropatii au tun risc usor erescut de a face cancer colorectal. Introduction Colorectal cancer and coronary heart disease seem to be unrelated conditions, However, they occur together pre~ dominantly in industrialized countries rather than develop- ing countries. There are common risk factors for both of these diseases (dietary risk factors such as saturated fat in- take and cigarette smoking) (1,2). Coronary heart disease and colorectal carcinoma have some common preventive factors, such as physical activity and the intake of aspirin (3, 4). Because of these similarities in epidemiology, the asso- ciation between the two diseases was studied in some indus- ttialized countries, leading to contradictory results (5-7)