Risk factors for primary lung cancer among never-smoking women in South Korea: a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study

Background/Aims: We performed a large-scale, retrospective, nationwide, cohort study to investigate the risk factors for lung cancer among never-smoking Korean females. Methods: The study data were collected from a general health examination and questionnaire survey of eligible populations conducted...

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Published in:The Korean journal of internal medicine 2020-05, Vol.35 (3), p.692
Main Authors: Yoon Ho Ko, Seung Joon Kim, Wan-seop Kim, Chan Kwon Park, Cheol-kyu Park, Yang-gun Suh, Jung Seop Eom, Sukki Cho, Jae Young Hur, Sung Ho Hwang, Jun-pyo Myong
Format: Article
Language:Korean
Subjects:
Cohort studies
Lung neoplasm
Never-smoking women
Risk factor
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Summary:Background/Aims: We performed a large-scale, retrospective, nationwide, cohort study to investigate the risk factors for lung cancer among never-smoking Korean females. Methods: The study data were collected from a general health examination and questionnaire survey of eligible populations conducted between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004; the data were acquired from the tailored big data distribution service of the National Health Insurance Service. After a 1-year clearance period, 5,860,922 of 6,318,878 never-smoking female participants with no previous history of lung cancer were investigated. After a median follow-up of 11.4 years, 43,473 (0.74%) participants were defined as “newly diagnosed lung cancer”. Results: After adjusting for all variables at baseline, the variables older age, lower body mass index (BMI), less exercise, frequent alcohol drinking, meatbased diet, rural residence, and previous history of cancer were associated with a higher incidence of lung cancer. Low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2: hazard ratio [HR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 1.40) was a significant independent risk factor; as BMI decreased, HR increased. Negative associations between BMI and lung-cancer development were also observed after controlling for age (p for trend < 0.001). Drinking alcohol one to two times a week (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.28) and eating a meat-based diet (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.15) were associated with lung-cancer incidence. Conclusions: Modifiable baseline characteristics, such as BMI, exercise, alcohol consumption, and diet, are risk factors for lung-cancer development among never-smoking females. Thus, lifestyle modifications may help prevent lung cancer.
ISSN:1226-3303
2005-6648