\[A cross-sectional investigation on risk factors of lung cancer for residents over 40 years old in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China\]

Our plain-English summary of [A cross-sectional investigation on risk factors of lung cancer for residents over 40 years old in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China], by B. Chen, W. Li, Y. Jia, et al (Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer, 2010).

The study

• Authors: B. Chen, W. Li, Y. Jia, N. Guo, D. Liu, X. Tang, Q. Wang, L. Xiao
• Journal: Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer
• Published: 2010;13(11):1021-6
• Language: Chinese
• Cited by: 4 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Background: In the previous studies, we have designed the Self-evaluation Scoring Questionnaire for High-risk Individuals of Lung Cancer. In order to make a better understanding of the status of risk factors of lung cancer for residents in Chengdu, we carried out the investigation from June 2009 to December 2009.

Methods: With the stratified random sampling method, eligible residents were included and their risk factors of lung cancer were collected with the Self-evaluation Scoring Questionnaire for High-risk Individuals of Lung Cancer.

Results: According to the criteria of the questionnaire, 21.34% of the population were at high risk of lung cancer. The smoking rate for male was 48.58%, higher than that of 2.65% for female. About 5.39% of male smokers began smoking before 15 years old. The average daily tobacco consumption in the most population was less than 20 pieces, with a duration between 20 to 40 years. However, there were 11.34% of all women suffered from passive smoking, and another 15.30% and 5.86% of residents were exposed to cooking fumes, minerals or asbestos. As for the previous illness history, 0.77%-18.08% of individuals have connective tissue diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, emphysema and others. Finally, 4.91% of residents endured the long-term mental depression, and 7.24% had a positive family history of tumors.

Conclusions: The status of risk factors for lung cancer among residents in Chengdu was not optimistic. It should be paid more attention to tobacco control and environmental improvement to improve people's health.

In plain English

This was a cross-sectional survey of lung cancer risk factors among residents over 40 years old in Chengdu, China, carried out from June to December 2009. Using stratified random sampling, the authors chose two communities, one central and one suburban, and interviewed long-term residents, mainly at home, with a scoring questionnaire they had designed earlier. Of 7,543 questionnaires, 7,250 were valid. The study did not track who developed lung cancer. Instead, a score of 116 or more counted as high risk, and 1,547 people (21.34%) reached it. The smoking rate was 48.58% in men and 2.65% in women. Passive smoking at or above the questionnaire's threshold affected 11.34% of women, mostly from husbands. Long-term cooking-fume exposure was reported by 15.30% of residents. 425 residents (5.86%) had worked ten years or more as miners, boiler workers, welders or similar. Separately, the article reported 21 residents who had contact with asbestos through work, with no fiber type stated. A family history of tumors was reported by 7.24%. The authors concluded that the risk-factor situation was not optimistic but mostly controllable, and called for tobacco control and environmental improvement.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey using stratified random sampling, mainly by in-home face-to-face interview, with the authors' own Self-evaluation Scoring Questionnaire for High-risk Individuals of Lung Cancer. High risk was defined as a score of 116 or more. No lung cancer outcomes were measured.
• Who was studied: Residents over 40 years old who had lived at least 5 years in two Chengdu communities (Jinyang community in Wuhou District, urban; Hongyang community in Qingbaijiang, suburban/rural), five neighbourhood committees each, surveyed June to December 2009. 7,543 surveyed, 7,250 valid questionnaires (3,477 men, 3,773 women), aged 40 to 95.
• Exposure: Self-reported lung cancer risk factors: active smoking, passive smoking in women, long-term cooking-fume exposure, and 10 years or more of occupational work as miners, boiler workers, welders and similar. Separately, 21 residents reported work-related asbestos contact (no fiber type given). Also covered: prior lung and connective tissue diseases, long-term mental depression and family history of tumors.
• Main results:
  • 1,547 of 7,250 residents (21.34%) scored 116 or more and were classed as high risk by the questionnaire.
  • Smoking rate was 48.58% in men (1,689 smokers) and 2.65% in women (100 smokers).
  • 5.39% of male smokers began smoking before age 15, versus 4.00% of female smokers. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.548).
  • 428 women (11.34% of all women) had passive smoking at or above the questionnaire's threshold. For 304 of them (71.03%) the source was the husband.
  • 1,109 residents (15.30%) had long-term cooking-fume exposure. 921 of them (83.05%) were women.
  • 425 residents (5.86%) had worked 10 years or more as miners, boiler workers, welders or similar.
  • Reported separately: 21 residents had contact with asbestos through work. One had 20 years of contact, and two also had 5 to 6 years of mining work.
  • 289 residents (3.99%) reported connective tissue disease.
  • 356 residents (4.91%) reported long-term mental depression.
  • 525 residents (7.24%) had a family history of tumors in first- or second-degree relatives.
  • 141 residents (1.94%) had a family history of lung cancer.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the lung cancer risk-factor status of Chengdu residents over 40 was not optimistic, but that most risk factors were controllable habits such as smoking and cooking-fume exposure. They called for stronger tobacco control and environmental improvement.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Lung Cancer, Emphysema.

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