Assessment of the Relationship Between Cancer Prevalence and Lifestyle Risk Factors in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study at a National Cancer Hospital

Cancer is a growing public health concern worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. Lifestyle factors, including dietary habits, smoking, and obesity, play a crucial role in cancer development. To provide updated insights for risk prediction and public health interventions this study aims is to collect and analyze patient data from the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) to identify and evaluate the association of lifestyle risk factors with cancer incidence in Bangladesh. This study investigates the prevalence of different cancers and their association with modifiable risk factors among Bangladeshi cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the NICRH where two-thirds (201) of the cancer patients’ data were involving to dominate the result. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and logistic regression analysis was performed by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 26 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) to assess the relationship between cancer and lifestyle factors. The findings indicate that breast cancer (18.9%) was the most prevalent cancer, followed by lung (15.9%), stomach (12.9%), cervix uteri (12.9%), and esophageal cancer (6.5%). Lung cancer was most common in males (27.5%), whereas breast cancer was the most frequent in females (34.5%). The highest cancer incidents were observed in individuals aged 40-60 years. Smoking showed a significant association with lung cancer (OR: 1.230, P = 0.001), while obesity was strongly associated with breast cancer (OR: 1.43, P = 0.006). These findings highlight the urgent need for public health intervention, including tobacco control, obesity prevention, dietary modifications, and expanded cancer screening programs, to reduce cancer incidence in Bangladesh. Addressing these risk factors through policy-driven strategies and awareness initiatives could significantly improve cancer prevention and early detection efforts.