Prostate cancer in relation to the use of electric blanket or heated waterbed

Using data from a case control study conducted in Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Puget Sound, we examined the relation between the use of electric blankets or heated water beds and the risk of prostate cancer. Cases were 1 75 prostate cancer patients ages 40-69 years. Controls were 258 male GHC me mbers frequency matched to cases. The odds ratio (OR) for prostate cancer a ssociated with the use of an electric blanket or heated water bed was 1.4 ( 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-2.2). The risk, however, did not tend to b e higher with increasing months per year or years of use. This study did no t provide clear evidence on the hypothesized association.