J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Jun;28(6):896-900. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.896.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer Risk in Current Smokers: The Seoul Male Cancer Cohort Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea. jmbae@jejunu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Epidemiology & Statistics, Jilin University School of Public Health Science, Changchun, China.
  • 3Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
  • 4Department of Social Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
  • 5Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 6Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Authors evaluated pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) history as a risk factor for lung cancer in current male smokers in a prospective, population-based cohort study. The subjects were the 7,009 males among the participants in the Seoul Male Cancer Cohort Study for whom there was full information on PTB history and smoking habits. With a 16-yr follow-up, 93 cases of lung cancer occurred over the 99,965 person-years of the study. The estimated relative risk (RR) of PTB history of current smokers in lung cancer after adjusting for three confounders - intake of coffee and tomatoes, and age at entry - was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.08-3.19). The observed joint RRs and attributable risks (ARs) across strata of three confounders were greater than the expected, indicating a positive interaction. Thus a history of PTB in current smokers may be another risk factor for lung cancer. Based on a synergic interaction, a heavy male smoker with a PTB history would be expected to belong to the group at high risk of lung cancer.

Keyword

Lung Neoplasms; Cancer Incidence; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Smoking; Effect Modifier; Cohort Studies

MeSH Terms

Adult
Cohort Studies
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lung Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
*Smoking
Time Factors
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications/*diagnosis

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