Frequent Use of Antibiotics Is Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk: Results of a Nested Case–Control Study

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 255 - 264
• Main Authors: Dik, Vincent K., van Oijen, Martijn G. H., Smeets, Hugo M., Siersema, Peter D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - adverse effects; Antibiotics; Biochemistry; Cancer; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - chemistry; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Colorectal Neoplasms - microbiology; Databases, Factual; Development and progression; Dysbiosis; Female; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Humans; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Netherlands - epidemiology; Odds Ratio; Oncology; Oncology, Experimental; Original; Original Article; Pneumoviridae; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Transplant Surgery; Netherlands; Pharmacoepidemiology; Microbiota; Antibiotics; Colorectal cancer
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-015-3828-0

Background Microbiotical dysbiosis induced by a Western diet seems to be associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Few other factors with an effect on the colonic microbiota and their association with CRC have been evaluated. Aim We investigated whether the use of antibiotics is associated with CRC risk. Methods Data on the use of antibiotics and comedication were extracted from a health insurance database for subjects with a diagnostic-related group for CRC between 2006 and 2011 and four age- and sex-matched controls. Antibiotic use was categorized according to the number of prescriptions during a 5-year follow-up period (1–6 years prior to CRC). Multivariable conditional binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) for different levels of use. Results A total of 4029 cases (47 % male, mean age at diagnosis 71 ± 11 years) and 15,988 controls were included. Antibiotics had been prescribed to 2630 (65.3 %) cases and 10,234 (64.0 %) controls ( p  = 0.13). An increasing use of antibiotics was associated with an increasing risk of CRC [multivariable OR for high (≥8 prescriptions) vs. no prescriptions: 1.26, 95 % CI 1.11–1.44, p -trend <0.01]. For each increase of 5 prescriptions, the OR for CRC was 1.05 (95 % CI 1.01–1.09). Conclusion We found an association between the use of antibiotics, especially when used frequently, and the risk of developing CRC. Further studies are needed to establish under which conditions the use of antibiotics increases the risk of developing CRC.