Lung cancer incidence and the strength of municipal smoke‐free ordinances

BACKGROUND Smoke‐free laws reduce disease prevalence. The impact of municipal smoke‐free laws on lung cancer incidence in Kentucky was examined. The authors hypothesized that lung cancer incidence rates would be associated with the strength of smoke‐free laws. METHODS This was a secondary analysis o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer 2018-01, Vol.124 (2), p.374-380
Main Authors: Hahn, Ellen J., Rayens, Mary Kay, Wiggins, Amanda T., Gan, Wenqi, Brown, Holly M., Mullett, Timothy W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer
Communities
Incidence
Legislation
Lung cancer
lung neoplasms
Minority & ethnic groups
Municipalities
Oncology
Ordinances
primary prevention
Radon
risk factors
Secondary analysis
Smoke
smoke‐free policy
Smoking
Smoking cessation
Tobacco smoke
Workers
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Summary:BACKGROUND Smoke‐free laws reduce disease prevalence. The impact of municipal smoke‐free laws on lung cancer incidence in Kentucky was examined. The authors hypothesized that lung cancer incidence rates would be associated with the strength of smoke‐free laws. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of 83,727 Kentucky residents aged ≥ 50 years who were newly diagnosed with lung cancer from 1995 to 2014. In 2014, 33 municipalities had 1 or more smoke‐free laws. County‐level characteristics included adult smoking rate, sex, race/ethnicity, income, physician supply, observed radon values, and rurality. RESULTS Individuals living in communities with comprehensive smoke‐free laws were 7.9% less likely than those living in communities without smoke‐free protections to be diagnosed with lung cancer. The difference in lung cancer incidence between counties with moderate/weak laws and those without laws was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Comprehensive smoke‐free laws were associated with fewer new cases of lung cancer, whereas weak or moderate smoke‐free laws did not confer the same benefit. One hundred percent smoke‐free laws, covering all workers and the public with few or no exceptions, may be key in reducing new cases of lung cancer. Cancer 2018;124:374‐80. © 2017 American Cancer Society. Comprehensive smoke‐free laws are associated with fewer new cases of lung cancer, whereas weak or moderate smoke‐free laws are not. Comprehensive smoke‐free laws may be key in reducing new cases of lung cancer. See also pages 245‐7.
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.31142