Socioeconomic status and lung cancer risk in Canada.
BACKGROUND
Several epidemiological studies have found that lung cancer is inversely related to socioeconomic status (SES) and suggest it as a possible risk factor for lung cancer. This study examines SES and lung cancer risk in Canada.


METHODS
Mailed questionnaires with telephone follow-up were used to obtain data on 3280 newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed lung cancer cases and 5073 population controls, between 1994 and 1997, in eight Canadian provinces. Measurement included information on SES, smoking habits, alcohol use, diet, residential and occupational histories and both residential and occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were derived from unconditional logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Compared with high income adequacy, an increased risk was found among low income males and females, with adjusted OR of 1.7 (95% CI : 1.3-2.2) and 1.5 (95% CI : 1.1-2.0), respectively. Compared with < or = 8 years of education, the adjusted OR were 0.6 (95% CI : 0.5-0.7) and 0.6 (95% CI : 0.5-0.8) for > or = 14 years education among males and females, respectively. Lung cancer risk was significantly increased for males of some social classes. The population attributable risk for income adequacy, education and social class was 24%, 25% and 21% among males, respectively, and 14% and 19% for income adequacy and education among females, respectively, in this Canadian population.


CONCLUSIONS
A statistically significant association between income adequacy, education social class and lung cancer risk was found.
Mao
Y
Y
Cancer Bureau, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Yang_Mao@hc-sc.gc.ca
Hu
J
J
Ugnat
A M
AM
Semenciw
R
R
Fincham
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution