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 ill 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 4970 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 Fates in the study period, with all adjusted slope of 1.07, 95% Cl of 0.98-1.17, and R(2) of 0.97. Conclusion: 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. (C) 2007 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.