Is opium use associated with an increased risk of lung cancer? A case-control study

• Published in: BMC cancer 2020-08, Vol.20 (1), p.807-8, Article 807
• Main Authors: Naghibzadeh-Tahami, Ahmad, Marzban, Maryam, Yazdi-Feyzabadi, Vahid, Dabiri, Shahryar, Mohseni, Shokrollah, Abbasi Rayeni, Reza, Samareh Fekri, Mitra, Larizadeh, Mohammad Hasan, Karimpour, Behnaz, Khanjani, Narges
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 20th century; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Cancer research; Case-control; Case-Control Studies; Cigarette smoking; Cigarette Smoking - adverse effects; Cigarette Smoking - epidemiology; Cigarettes; Consent; Data analysis; Data collection; Diet; Female; Health aspects; Healthy Volunteers; Heroin; Humans; Interviews; Iran - epidemiology; Lung cancer; Lung neoplasm; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; Male; Meat; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Non-Smokers - statistics & numerical data; Opioids; Opium; Opium - adverse effects; Population; Questionnaires; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Risk factor; Risk Factors; Smokers - statistics & numerical data; Smoking; Smoking, Non-Tobacco Products - adverse effects; Smoking, Non-Tobacco Products - epidemiology; Tobacco smoking
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07296-0

In recent years, lung cancer (LC) incidence has increased in Iran. The use of opium and its derivatives (O&D) has increased as well. This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of O&D and LC incidence. In this case-control study conducted in Kerman, Iran; 140 patients with lung cancer and 280 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and place of residence were included. Data, including O&D use, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and diet, were collected using a structured questionnaire. The relation between the use of O&D and LC was evaluated using conditional logistic regression adjusted for tobacco smoking, education, daily intake of fruit, vegetables, red meat, and hydrogenated fats. Opium ever-use was associated with an increased risk of LC (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =5.95, 95% CI: 1.87-18.92). Participants were divided into low and high use groups based on the median of opium use in the control group. A significant dose-response relation was observed between the amount of daily O&D use and LC; and the relation was stronger in high users (AOR  = 3.81% CI: 1.13-12.77 and OR  = 9.36, 95% CI: 2.05-42.72). Also, LC was higher among participants starting the use of O&D at younger ages (≤ 41 years old vs never users AOR = 8.64, 95% CI: 1.90-39.18) compared to those who started at an older age (> 41 years old vs never users, AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.38-16.08). The association between opium, and lung cancer among non-smokers was OR: 6.50 (95% CI: 2.89 to 14.64). The results of this study show that opium use is probably a dose related risk factor for lung cancer.