Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention

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Incidence of lung cancer in a large cohort of non-smoking men from Sweden

  1. Paolo Boffetta1,2,†,*,
  2. Bengt Järvholm3,
  3. Paul Brennan1,
  4. Olof Nyrén2

Article first published online: 27 AUG 2001

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.1507

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 94, Issue 4, pages 591–593, 15 November 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Boffetta, P., Järvholm, B., Brennan, P. and Nyrén, O. (2001), Incidence of lung cancer in a large cohort of non-smoking men from Sweden. International Journal of Cancer, 94: 591–593. doi: 10.1002/ijc.1507

Author Information

  1. 1

    Unit of Environmental Cancer Epidemiology, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

  2. 2

    Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

  3. 3

    Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

  1. †

    Fax: +33-4-72738320

*International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert-Thomas, 69008 Lyon, France

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 OCT 2001
  2. Article first published online: 27 AUG 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 8 MAY 2001
  4. Manuscript Revised: 3 MAY 2001
  5. Manuscript Received: 2 NOV 2000

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Keywords:

  • lung neoplasms;
  • tobacco smoking;
  • non-smokers;
  • construction workers

Abstract

Valid data on the occurrence of lung cancer among non-smokers are sparse and refer mainly to North American populations. The objective of our study is to provide an estimate of the incidence of lung cancer among non-smokers in a large European population. Proceeding from a nation-wide health care program among Swedish construction workers, we estimated the incidence of lung cancer among 143,998 males who reported to be never smokers at 1 or several physical check-ups (average, 2.9 visits) during 1971–92. Cancer incidence data for 1971–95 were obtained through linkage with the virtually complete national cancer registry. Cohort members contributed over 2 million person-years of observation, during which 101 lung cancers occurred. The age-standardized rate was 3.7/100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8–4.6). There was a suggestion of a calendar period effect, with rates increasing from 1.5/100,000 in 1976–80 to 5.4/100,000 in 1991–95. A birth cohort effect was also suggested. Rates estimated in this population are comparable to those from North American studies. The increasing rate during the study period might be due to non-smokers who took up the habit, but it might also reflect temporal changes in the effect of other risk factors of lung cancer in non-smokers. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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