[Lung cancer as an index of tobacco exposure: association with non-lung cancer mortality].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the possible role of tobacco smoke in non-lung cancer (excluding stomach cancer) using changes in lung cancer mortality rates as a proxy for tobacco exposure.


METHODS
A time series analysis of cancer mortality was performed to evaluate the possible association between changes in mortality rates for lung cancer and for non-lung, non-stomach cancer (NLNS) from 1970 to 2003 in Spanish males. To avoid problems with autocorrelation, Prais-Winsten regression was applied.


RESULTS
Changes in NLNS cancer death rates showed a parallel trend with lung cancer death rates in the study period, with an adjusted slope of 1.07, 95% CI of 0.98-1.17, and R2 of 0.97.


CONCLUSIONS
Variation in NLNS cancer death rates can be accurately modelled as a function of changes in lung cancer death rates for the study period, suggesting a possible association between tobacco exposure and NLNS cancers.
Pérez-Ríos
Mónica
M
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España. monica.perez.rios@usc.es
Leistikow
Bruce
B
Montes
Agustín
A
D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors