Social class differences in lung cancer mortality risk factor explanations using two Scottish cohort studies

Hart, C.L. , Hole, D.J., Gillis, C.R., Davey Smith, G., Watt, G.C.M. and Hawthorne, V. (2001) Social class differences in lung cancer mortality risk factor explanations using two Scottish cohort studies. International Journal of Epidemiology, 30(2), pp. 268-274.

Abstract

<b>Background</b> The study investigated differences in lung cancer mortality risk between social classes. <b>Methods</b> Twenty years of mortality follow-up were analysed in 7052 men and 8354 women from the Renfrew/Paisley general population study and 4021 working men from the Collaborative study. <b>Results</b> More manual than non-manual men and women smoked, reported morning phlegm, had worse lung function and lived in more deprived areas. Lung cancer mortality rates were higher in manual than non-manual men and women. Significantly higher lung cancer mortality risks were seen for manual compared to non-manual workers when adjusting for age only and adjustment for smoking reduced these risks to 1.41 (95% CI : 1.12-1.77) for men in the Renfrew/Paisley study, 1.28 (95% CI : 0.94-1.75) for women in the Renfrew/Paisley study and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.02-2.01) for men in the Collaborative study. Adjustment for lung function, phlegm and deprivation category attenuated the risks which were of borderline significance for men in the Renfrew/Paisley study and non significant for women in the Renfrew/Paisley study and men in the Collaborative study. Adding extra socioeconomic variables, available in the Collaborative study only, reduced the difference between the manual and non-manual social classes completely. <b>Conclusions</b> There is a difference in lung cancer risk between social classes, in addition to the effect of smoking. This can be explained by poor lung health, deprivation and poor socioeconomic conditions throughout life. As well as anti-smoking measures, reducing socioeconomic inequalities and targeting individuals with poor lung function for help with smoking cessation could help reduce future lung cancer incidence and mortality.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Lung cancer, social class, cohort studies
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hart, Dr Carole and Gillis, Prof Charles and Davey Smith, Professor George and Hole, Prof David
• Authors: Hart, C.L., Hole, D.J., Gillis, C.R., Davey Smith, G., Watt, G.C.M., and Hawthorne, V.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine; R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer); R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Research Group: Midspan
• Journal Name: International Journal of Epidemiology
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0300-5771
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2001 Oxford University Press
• First Published: First published in International journal of epidemiology 30(2):268-274
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher