Estimation of cancer incidence and mortality attributable to smoking in China

Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Jun;21(6):959-65. doi: 10.1007/s10552-010-9523-8. Epub 2010 Mar 10.

Abstract

Background: Tobacco smoking, as a cause of cancer, is common in China. Few studies have been conducted to assess the burden of tobacco-related cancer in the Chinese population.

Methods: We calculated the proportion of cancers attributable to tobacco smoking to estimate the burden of tobacco-related cancer. Population attributable fraction was calculated based on the assumption of total avoidance of smoking. Data on smoking prevalence were from two large-scale national surveys of representative samples of the Chinese population. Data on relative risk were derived from the meta-analyses and large-scale studies. Cancer mortality and incidence were originated from the third national death cause survey and cancer registries in China.

Results: We estimated that a total of 405,112 deaths of cancer were attributable to smoking in China in 2005, including 372,264 among men (32.7% of all cancer deaths) and 32,848 among women (5.0%). A total of 495,221 cancer cases were attributable to smoking, including 454,785 among men (30.0% of all cancer cases) and 40,436 among women (3.9%). Involuntary smoking was responsible for 11,507 lung cancer deaths (11.1%) among non-smoking women.

Conclusion: Tobacco smoking is responsible for one-third of the total cancer deaths among men. Involuntary smoking is an important individual risk factor for lung cancer among non-smoking women. There is a need to continue and strengthen tobacco-control programs and initiatives to reduce smoking-related cancer burden in China.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cause of Death
  • China / epidemiology
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Male
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Nervous System Neoplasms / complications
  • Nervous System Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Neoplasms / mortality
  • Nicotiana
  • Prevalence
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution