Prospective investigation of emotional control and cancer risk in men (theZutphen Elderly Study) (The Netherlands)

Objectives: Emotional control is hypothesized to increase cancer incidence and cancer mortality risk. We tested the hypothesis prospectively on all ca ncers in elderly men. Methods: The Zutphen Elderly Study on lifestyle and chronic diseases starte d in 1985. The total sample consisted of 939 men born between 1900 and 1920 and living in Zutphen (response 74%). In 1985, emotional control was measu red by questionnaire with the Courtald Emotional Control Scale (CECS). The CECS consists of three dimensions (anger, anxiety and depression). Emotiona l control scores were grouped in tertiles. Information on cancer incidence and mortality was collected until December 1994 through general practitione rs and hospital administration (119 incidence cases, and 71 deaths from can cer). Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed, adjusted for sociod emographic, psychosocial, and lifestyle-related factors. Results: Overall emotional control and emotional control of anger and of an xiety were not convincingly related to cancer risk. Intermediate control of depression was related to cancer incidence (fully adjusted RR = 1.7, 95% C I = 1.0-2.8). Both intermediate and high control of depression were related to cancer mortality (RR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1-4.6 and RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0 -4.3, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that control of depression is rel ated to cancer risk.