Women's susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens.
OBJECTIVE
To assess lung cancer risk of smoking women relative to that of equally smoking men.


METHODS
The study base was constituted by baseline CT screenings for lung cancer on 1202 women and 1288 men, at least 40 years of age and with at least 10 pack-years of cigarette smoking. The prevalence-odds (incidence-density) ratio contrasting women with men was calculated. Confoundings by age and the particulars of smoking history were controlled in logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
For the prevalence-odds ratio contrasting women with men, upon control of age and smoking history, the point estimate was 2.7 and the 95% interval estimate 1.6-4.7. The diagnosed cancers were of equally 'aggressive' types between the two genders.


CONCLUSIONS
At variance with evidence from cohort studies, this evidence from a screening experience calls for further consideration of the hypothesis that women are more susceptible to tobacco carcinogens than are men.
Henschke
Claudia I
CI
Department of Radiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, USA. chensch@med.cornell.edu
Miettinen
Olli S
OS
D000328:Adult; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014026:Nicotiana
D002273:Carcinogens