Lower risk of lung cancer after multiple pneumonia diagnoses.
BACKGROUND
Although pneumonia has been suggested as a risk factor for lung cancer, previous studies have not evaluated the influence of number of pneumonia diagnoses in relation to lung cancer risk.


METHODS
The Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE) population-based study of 2,100 cases and 2,120 controls collected information on pneumonia more than 1 year before enrollment from 1,890 cases and 2,078 controls.


RESULTS
After adjusting for study design variables, smoking, and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia was associated with decreased risk of lung cancer [odds ratio (OR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64-0.97], especially among individuals with three or more diagnoses versus none (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-0.75). Adjustment for chronic bronchitis contributed to this inverse association. In comparison, pulmonary tuberculosis was not associated with lung cancer (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.62-1.48).


CONCLUSIONS
The apparent protective effect of pneumonia among individuals with multiple pneumonia diagnoses may reflect an underlying difference in immune response and requires further investigation and confirmation. Therefore, careful evaluation of the number of pneumonia episodes may shed light on lung cancer etiology.
Koshiol
Jill
J
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7248, Bethesda, MD 20892-7248, USA. koshiolj@mail.nih.gov
Rotunno
Melissa
M
Consonni
Dario
D
Pesatori
Angela Cecilia
AC
De Matteis
Sara
S
Goldstein
Alisa M
AM
Chaturvedi
Anil K
AK
Wacholder
Sholom
S
Landi
Maria Teresa
MT
Lubin
Jay H
JH
Caporaso
Neil E
NE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors