Cancer of colon and rectum (colorectal) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. There is a scarcity of published data on the risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC) from the Middle-Eastern countries specifically in Kuwait. Therefore, this matched case-control study sought to examine the risk factors associated with CRC in Kuwait. One hundred and three histopathologically confirmed colorectal cancer cases were recruited from Kuwait Cancer Control Centre Registry. Two hundred and six controls matched with cases (2:1 ratio) on age, gender and nationality were selected from medical, ophthalmology, orthopedic and/ or surgical out-patient clinics at three main general hospitals in Kuwait. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from cases and controls through face-to-face interview. Adjusted matched odds ratios (mORadj) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a multivariable conditional logistic regression model. Multivariable conditional logistic regression model showed that cases were 4.3 times more likely to have had attainted obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in their lifetime compared to controls (mORadj = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.6–11.4). Compared to controls, cases rarely consumed fruits and vegetable (mORadj = 20.8; 95% CI: 4.4–99.5), tended to consume red meat 2–3 times a week (mORadj = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.6–8.7) or more than 4 times a week (mORadj = 9.4; 95% CI: 2.5–35.4). Reportedly cases compared to controls frequently (nearly every week) suffered from constipation (mORadj = 5.6; 95% CI: 1.9–16.5). However, CRC cases were less likely than controls to have been diagnosed in the past with hypercholesterolemia (mORadj = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.7) or diabetes mellitus type II (mORadj = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.8). Obesity, excessive red meat consumption and infrequent fruits/vegetables intake were associated with an increased CRC risk. Overcoming identified pitfalls in dietary pattern and maintenance of healthy weight may help minimize CRC risk in Kuwait and perhaps other countries in the region. Further studies on genetic basis in conjunction with life styles and dietary factors may unravel their joint contributions to CRC risk and furnish tools for curtailing CRC risk in this and other similar populations.

About 1.3 billion people are regular smokers world wide and every day between 8,200 and 9,900 young people start to smoke, risking rapid addiction to nicotine. Transition from high school to college is a critical period to adopt healthy habits and life style. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that might influence their smoking habit. Our study aims to assess the influence of factors that encourage college students to smoke cigarettes.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in an urban setting of Pakistan. Design and methods: In this multicenter case–control study, patients aged 15 years old or older with sputum culture and sensitivity (C/S) diagnosed with pulmonary MDR-TB were defined as cases, whereas patients aged 15 years old or older with sputum C/S diagnosed and susceptible to pulmonary TB were regarded as controls. Fifty cases and 75 controls were enrolled from three tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi. Results: Multivariable logistic regression models showed that cases were more likely to have had a TB patient in the house prior to the diagnosis of MDR-TB (adjusted odds ratio [OR _adj ]=3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 8.3) or had a history of prior TB treatment (OR _adj = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 15.4). Furthermore, cases compared with controls tended to be male (OR _adj = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.7), 15–25 years of age (OR _adj = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 11.3), of Sindhi ethnicity (adjusted OR=9.1, 95% CI: 1.9, 43.4) or with low educational attainment (OR _adj OR=5.5, 95% CI: 1.7–17.6, for no formal schooling; OR _adj = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.1–14.1, 1 for 1–5 school years). Conclusions: A TB patient in the house or a history of prior TB treatment was strongly associated with MDR-TB in this study. Furthermore, younger age, male gender, Sindhi ethnicity and poor educational attainment entailed a high risk for MDR-TB. Targeted educational intervention for patients and their contacts may minimize the noncompliance with prescribed TB treatment and lessen MDR-TB magnitude in settings like Karachi.

There is paucity of data on seasonal variation in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries contrary to recognized seasonality in the TB notification in western societies. This study examined the seasonal pattern in TB diagnosis among migrant workers from developing countries entering Kuwait.