Associations between history of chronic lung disease and non-small cell lung carcinoma in Maryland: variations by sex and race.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is a multifactorial malignancy for which some risk factors, such as chronic lung diseases, their interactions with smoking, and how they differ by race and sex, are not fully understood. We investigated the associations between chronic inflammatory lung disease and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and how sex and race may affect such associations.

METHODS: Using logistic regression, we analyzed 1660 lung cancer cases and 1959 population controls and estimated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Chronic lung disease was significantly associated with higher odds of having NSCLC in never (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.19-3.34), former (AOR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.29-2.20), and current smokers (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.62-3.57), after adjustment for relevant covariates. For each 5-year increment in chronic lung disease duration, the risk of lung cancer increased only among females (AOR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02-1.13). Females, but not males, with asthma were at risk for NSCLC (AOR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.40-3.10).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for chronic lung inflammation as a potential contributing factor to lung cancer risk and possible sex difference in the inflammatory events underlying disease mechanisms.