PREVIOUS LUNG-DISEASE AND RISK OF LUNG-CANCER AMONG LIFETIME NONSMOKING WOMEN IN THE UNITED-STATES

The authors conducted a population-based case-control study of lung ca ncer in nonsmoking women in five metropolitan areas of the United Stat es between December 1, 1985, and November 30, 1990. In-person intervie ws were conducted with 412 lung cancer cases and 1,253 population cont rols, yielding information on history of nonmalignant lung diseases th at were diagnosed by a physician, When lung cancer cases were compared with controls, history of any previous lung disease was associated wi th a significant increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio (A OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.0), Several lung diseas es, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, were reported more often by lung cancer cases than by controls, and t he difference was statistically significant for asthma (AOR = 1.67, 95 % CI 1.1-2.5) and chronic bronchitis (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.1-2.4). Sin ce significant increased risks were observed for asthma and tuberculos is diagnosed before age 21 years, it is unlikely that reported prior l ung diseases were prediagnostic manifestations of lung cancers. The in creased risks associated with previous lung disease were observed for adenocarcinomas and other carcinomas of the lung; the point estimates were generally higher for the latter category, The risks associated wi th previous lung diseases remained unchanged after adjustment for pote ntial confounders, including environmental tobacco smoke exposure duri ng childhood and adult life and dietary factors.