Role of active and passive smoking on lung cancer etiology in Mexico City

Abstract

Objective. To estimate the association between passive and active smoking exposures and lung cancer in Mexico City and the corresponding attributable risks. Material and Methods. Data was analyzed from a multicenter population-based case-control study conducted in Mexico City. Results. ORs for lung cancer in ever smokers were 6.2 (95% CI 3.9-10.2) for males and 2.8 (95% CI 1.7-4.4) for females. Passive smoking at home showed an overall OR of 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.6), similar in both genders. Attributable risk for active smoking for both genders combined, and for males and females separately, was estimated at 55, 76 and 27%, respectively. Attributable risk for passive smoking at home was 17% for females, 3.9% for males and 12% for the entire population. Conclusions. In Mexico City smoking is attributable to a smaller proportion of lung cancer cases than in developed countries. This is explained by a lower intensity of smoking in the Mexican population.