Research Questions:
What is the association between habitual sleep duration and mortality due to digestive system cancers in the UK Biobank cohort?
How does adherence to a healthy diet modify the risk of digestive system cancer mortality?
Are the associations between sleep duration, dietary habits, and digestive system cancer mortality influenced by factors such as smoking, body mass index (BMI), or type 2 diabetes?
Objectives:
To evaluate the relationship between short (!6 hours), normal (7-8 hours), and long (!9 hours) sleep durations and the risk of digestive system cancer mortality.
To investigate the protective effects of a healthy diet-characterized by higher fiber intake, greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, and limited meat consumption-on digestive system cancer mortality.
To explore the potential interactions and mediating effects of lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, BMI, type 2 diabetes) on the associations between sleep duration, diet, and cancer mortality.
Scientific Rationale:
Digestive system cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Lifestyle factors such as diet and sleep are modifiable risk factors that may influence the development and progression of these cancers. While previous studies have independently examined the impacts of sleep and diet, few have explored their combined effects on digestive system cancer mortality. This research leverages the UK Biobank cohort, a large-scale dataset with detailed lifestyle and health information, to provide novel insights into the interplay between sleep, diet, and cancer mortality. Understanding these relationships can inform public health strategies to reduce cancer burden and improve survivorship.
