Smoking and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case-control study in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between smoking and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.


METHODS
We conducted a hospital-based case-control study that included 180 cases of NHL and 360 age-, gender-matched hospital controls. Matched univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis.


RESULTS
For the whole study population as well as for men, smoking does not elevate the risk of NHL. However, the risk of NHL is higher for women who currently smoke compared to women who have never smoked (odds ratio [OR] = 2.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.19-4.84). Among ever smokers, the OR of NHL is 5.04 (95% CI = 1.40-18.12) for women who have smoked for more than 30 years compared with those who have never smoked. Similarly, women who started to smoke before the age of 20 years compared with women who have never smoked are at greater risk of developing NHL (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 0.99-5.85). In the total population (women and men), smoking may be associated with one histologic subtype, follicular NHL with an adjusted OR for the current smokers compared to subjects having never smoked of 3.20, 95% CI = 0.79-12.97.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the small number of subjects in the subgroups, a relation is observed between smoking and NHL among women, but not men, and in the total population a relation is suggested between smoking and follicular NHL.
Besson
Hervé
H
International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69378 Lyon cedex 8, France.
Renaudier
Philippe
P
Merrill
Ray M
RM
Coiffier
Bertrand
B
Sebban
Catherine
C
Fabry
Jacques
J
Trepo
Christian
C
Sasco
Annie J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*