Impact of Health Behaviors on Colorectal Cancer in Black and White Populations: Building and Analyzing the Healthy Behavior Index (HBI) from PLCO Data
Principal Investigator
Name
Christian Okitondo
Degrees
M.S
Institution
University of Georgia
Position Title
PhD Student | Graduate Student Researcher
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO
(Learn more about this study)
Project ID
PLCO-1435
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Jan 4, 2024
Title
Impact of Health Behaviors on Colorectal Cancer in Black and White Populations: Building and Analyzing the Healthy Behavior Index (HBI) from PLCO Data
Summary
The study "Impact of Health Behaviors on Colorectal Cancer in Black and White Populations" aims to address colorectal cancer (CRC) disparities through the lens of health behaviors. Utilizing the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer data, this research focuses on the construction and analysis of a Healthy Behavior Index (HBI). The HBI incorporates key CRC risk factors such as smoking, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption, offering a novel approach to understanding how lifestyle choices impact CRC incidence and mortality.
This project targets Black and White populations within the PLCO dataset, emphasizing the disparities in CRC outcomes between these groups. The HBI will be systematically scored, with higher values indicating healthier behaviors. Methodologically, the study employs descriptive analysis to characterize the population and baseline HBI scores. Cox Proportional Hazards Models will assess the HBI's impact on CRC outcomes, while subgroup and longitudinal analyses will explore racial differences and behavioral changes over time.
The study's primary objectives include constructing the HBI, quantifying its impact on CRC incidence and mortality, identifying key health behaviors driving disparities, and examining the influence of these behaviors over time. It expects to reveal significant correlations between the HBI and CRC outcomes, identifying specific behaviors disproportionately affecting CRC risk and survival.
This research holds considerable significance in public health, aiming to inform interventions and strategies for reducing CRC disparities. By focusing on modifiable risk factors, the study promises to contribute to targeted prevention and health education, especially for high-risk populations.
Acknowledging potential limitations like confounders in the PLCO dataset and the HBI's potential incompleteness, the research team aims for thorough and insightful analysis. The generalizability of findings may be limited to the study population.
In conclusion, this study aims to enhance understanding of the complex relationship between health behaviors and CRC disparities. By developing and using the HBI, it seeks to uncover behavioral factors influencing CRC incidence and mortality, guiding future interventions and policies to mitigate these disparities and promote health equity.
This project targets Black and White populations within the PLCO dataset, emphasizing the disparities in CRC outcomes between these groups. The HBI will be systematically scored, with higher values indicating healthier behaviors. Methodologically, the study employs descriptive analysis to characterize the population and baseline HBI scores. Cox Proportional Hazards Models will assess the HBI's impact on CRC outcomes, while subgroup and longitudinal analyses will explore racial differences and behavioral changes over time.
The study's primary objectives include constructing the HBI, quantifying its impact on CRC incidence and mortality, identifying key health behaviors driving disparities, and examining the influence of these behaviors over time. It expects to reveal significant correlations between the HBI and CRC outcomes, identifying specific behaviors disproportionately affecting CRC risk and survival.
This research holds considerable significance in public health, aiming to inform interventions and strategies for reducing CRC disparities. By focusing on modifiable risk factors, the study promises to contribute to targeted prevention and health education, especially for high-risk populations.
Acknowledging potential limitations like confounders in the PLCO dataset and the HBI's potential incompleteness, the research team aims for thorough and insightful analysis. The generalizability of findings may be limited to the study population.
In conclusion, this study aims to enhance understanding of the complex relationship between health behaviors and CRC disparities. By developing and using the HBI, it seeks to uncover behavioral factors influencing CRC incidence and mortality, guiding future interventions and policies to mitigate these disparities and promote health equity.
Aims
1. To construct a comprehensive Healthy Behavior Index (HBI) using risk factors such as smoking, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption from the PLCO dataset.
2. To quantify the impact of the HBI on CRC incidence and mortality in Black and White populations.
3. To identify specific health behaviors within the HBI that are most strongly associated with CRC disparities.
4. To investigate how changes in these health behaviors over time influence CRC outcomes in these racial groups.
Collaborators
Christian Okitondo