OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to compiling Step 1 study notes for the topic of risk factors. This page is likely disorganized as it was made in haste.
MALIGNANCY:
Generally listed in order of highest to lowest significance:
Pancreatic cancer:
- Age: highest incidence is ages 65-75
- Smoking: most important environmental risk factor for pancreatic cancer
- Diabetes mellitus: the longer the illness duration, the greater the risk
- Chronic pancreatitis: the risk of cancer increases with the disease.
- Genetic predisposition: MEN syndromes, etc.
Gastric cancer (Intestinal):
- H. pylori infection
- Dietary nitrosamines (smoked foods)
- Tobacco smoking
- Achorhydia
- Chronic gastritis
Cervical Cancer:
- HPV infection: high risk strains are 16,18,31
- Things that increase HPV transmission are by proxy risk factors (i.e. lack of barrier contraceptive usage).
Ovarian Cancer:
- Family history
- Infertility Nulliparity
- Polycystic ovarian syndorme
- Endometriosis
- BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
- Lynch syndorme
- Postmenopausal hormone syndrome
Ovarian Cancer (protective):
- Combined oral contraceptives
- Multiparity
- Breastfeeding
- Sapling-oophorectomy
OTHER:
Peptic ulcer:
- H. pylori infection
- NSAID use
GERD:
- Smoking
Prematurity:
- Cocaine use
Sarcoidosis:
- Ethnicity: african americans
- Sex: females
Nephrolithiasis:
- Primary hyperparathyroidism: causes hypercalciuria
- Crohn disease: hyperoxaluria
- Distal renal tubular acidosis: hypocitraturia
- Gout: hyperuricosuria
- Low fluid intake: dehydration (decreases solubility all around)
- Diet:
- Low calcium
- High oxalate (too much spinach/rhubarb)
- High protein
- High sodium
- High fructose
Suicide:
- Past suicide attempt: by far the largest risk factor for this.
- Access to firearms
- Elderly white men
Page Updated: 04.15.2017