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Social support and cancer incidence and mortality: the JPHC study cohort II

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Abstract

Background

Studies conducted in Western countries have found a robust association between higher social support and improved cancer outcomes, particularly for breast cancer incidence and prognosis. However, less is known about the influence of social support on cancer among Asian populations where the measures of social support may differ in social relationships. In this prospective cohort study in Japan, we sought to examine the associations between the incidence and mortality of total and site-specific cancer.

Methods

We examined prospectively the association between social support and risk of cancer incidence and mortality within a cohort of 44,152 Japanese men and women, aged 40–69 years, free of prior diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Social support was measured by emotional support defined as receipt of confidant support and esteem support from family members or friends and by social isolation. A total of 3,444 cases of newly diagnosed cancer and 1,561 cancer deaths occurred between the baseline questionnaire (1993–1994) and the end of follow-up in January 2004.

Results

The multivariate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals for colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in the highest social support versus lowest social support group were 1.48 (1.06–2.05) and 3.07 (1.65–5.69) in men, respectively. Social support was not associated with other site-specific cancer incidence or cancer outcomes in women.

Conclusions

Low social support was associated with higher risk of both colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in men. Social support may affect colorectal cancer onset and prognosis via a range of factors, including healthier lifestyles as well as adherence to therapeutic regimens.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants-in-aid for Cancer Research and for the Third Term Comprehensive Ten-Year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. The authors thank all staff members in each study area and in the central office for their painstaking efforts to conduct the baseline survey and follow-up. Dr. Ai Ikeda was also supported by the postdoctoral fellowship for Research Abroad of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Tokyo, Japan).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Ai Ikeda & Ichiro Kawachi

  2. Public Health, Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita-shi, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Ai Ikeda & Hiroyasu Iso

  3. Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan

    Ai Ikeda, Motoki Iwasaki, Manami Inoue & Shoichiro Tsugane

Authors
  1. Ai Ikeda
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  2. Ichiro Kawachi
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  3. Hiroyasu Iso
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  4. Motoki Iwasaki
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  5. Manami Inoue
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  6. Shoichiro Tsugane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyasu Iso.

Additional information

This study was conducted for the JPHC Study Group.

Appendix: Study group members

Appendix: Study group members

Members of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study, principal investigator: S. Tsugane) Group are: S. Tsugane, M. Inoue, T. Sobue, and T. Hanaoka, National Cancer Center, Tokyo; J. Ogata, S. Baba, T. Mannami, A. Okayama, and Y. Kokubo, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka; K. Miyakawa, F. Saito, A. Koizumi, Y. Sano, I. Hashimoto, and T. Ikuta, Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Public Health Center, Iwate; Y. Miyajima, N. Suzuki, S. Nagasawa, Y. Furusugi, and N. Nagai, Akita Prefectural Yokote Public Health Center, Akita; H. Sanada, Y. Hatayama, F. Kobayashi, H. Uchino, Y. Shirai, T. Kondo, R. Sasaki, Y. Watanabe, Y. Miyagawa, and Y. Kobayashi, Nagano Prefectural Saku Public Health Center, Nagano; Y. Kishimoto, E. Takara, T. Fukuyama, M. Kinjo, M. Irei, and H. Sakiyama, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Public Health Center, Okinawa; K. Imoto, H. Yazawa, T. Seo, A. Seiko, F. Ito, and F. Shoji, Katsushika Public Health Center, Tokyo; A. Murata, K. Minato, K. Motegi, and T. Fujieda, Ibaraki Prefectural Mito Public Health Center, Ibaraki; K. Matsui, T. Abe, M. Katagiri, and M. Suzuki, Niigata Prefectural Kashiwazaki and Nagaoka Public Health Center, Niigata; M. Doi, A. Terao, Y. Ishikawa, and T. Tagami, Kochi Prefectural Chuo-higashi Public Health Center, Kochi; H. Sueta, H. Doi, M. Urata, N. Okamoto, and F. Ide, Nagasaki Prefectural Kamigoto Public Health Center, Nagasaki; H. Sakiyama, N. Onga, H. Takaesu, and M. Uehara, Okinawa Prefectural Miyako Public Health Center, Okinawa; F. Horii, I. Asano, H. Yamaguchi, K. Aoki, S. Maruyama, M. Ichii, and M. Takano, Osaka Prefectural Suita Public Health Center, Osaka; Y. Tsubono, Tohoku University, Miyagi; K. Suzuki, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels Akita, Akita; Y. Honda, K. Yamagishi, and S. Sakurai, Tsukuba University, Ibaraki; M. Kabuto, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki; M. Yamaguchi, Y. Matsumura, S. Sasaki, and S. Watanabe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo; M. Akabane, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo; T. Kadowaki, Tokyo University, Tokyo; M. Noda, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo; Y. Kawaguchi, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo; Y. Takashima, Kyorin University, Tokyo; K. Nakamura, Niigata University, Niigata; S. Matsushima and S. Natsukawa, Saku General Hospital, Nagano; H. Shimizu, Sakihae Institute, Gifu; H. Sugimura, Hamamatsu University, Shizuoka; S. Tominaga, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Aichi; H. Iso, Osaka University, Osaka; M. Iida, W. Ajiki, and A. Ioka, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, Osaka; S. Sato, Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion, Osaka; E. Maruyama, Kobe University, Hyogo; M. Konishi, K. Okada, and I. Saito, Ehime University, Ehime; N. Yasuda, Kochi University, Kochi; S. Kono, Kyushu University, Fukuoka.

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Ikeda, A., Kawachi, I., Iso, H. et al. Social support and cancer incidence and mortality: the JPHC study cohort II. Cancer Causes Control 24, 847–860 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0147-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0147-7

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