A Case-control Study of Buerger's Disease

A nation-wide case-control study was conducted to identify the risk factors and to give clues to the etiology of Buerger's disease. Cases were 153 male patients who were the receivers of national financial aids for the treatment of the disease and were enrolled in public health center. For each case, a control was randomly selected from the list of the examinees of health examinations in the public health center same as the case and was matched to the case by age (± 5 years old) and sex. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to all study participants. The results of statistical analyses under the condition that the estimated onset age of the case was under 50 years old were as follows ; (1) strong link between tobacco and Buerger's disease was statistically reconfirmed. (2) cases consumed a less amount of milk than controls. (3) cases were engaged in physical works more frequently and under noisier and dustier environments than controls. (4) the past history of allergic rhinitis was found more on the side of cases. J Epidemiol, 1991; 1 : 19-25.