title: Obtaining smoking histories for population-based studies on multiple primary cancers: Connecticut, 2002.
abstract: Because of the absence of data on smoking history for patients in cancer registries, large population-based studies have been unable to directly assess the role of smoking in the risk of multiple primary cancers. In a random sample of 618 adults diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2002 and reported to the population-based Connecticut (CT) cancer registry, however, search of hospital records identified smoking history (current, former, never- or nonsmoker) for 83.3%. Number of cigarettes per day was known for 71.3% of 289 current or former smokers, while duration of quitting was found for 92.3% of 194 former smokers. Smoking status was strongly associated with current heavy alcohol use. Hospital records appear to be a promising resource for population-based studies on smoking histories in relation to risk of multiple primaries, although completeness of information needs to be improved in CT and assessments are needed in other cancer registries.
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, CT 06134-0308, USA. anthony.polednak@po.state.ct.us
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Polednak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires