Tobacco smoking has long been identified as the most important risk factor for upper aero-digestive tract cancers. To investigate the effect of different tobacco types and the benefit of smoking cessation, we analyzed data from a case-control study of 784 cases of mouth, pharynx, and larynx cancers and 1,578 non-cancer controls in three metropolitan hospital areas in Brazil. Subjects were interviewed as to their smoking and drinking habits, demographics, environmental exposures, occupational history, health characteristics, and diet. Controlling for total tobacco and alcohol consumption, risks for ex-smokers compared with current smokers decreased substantially with time since cessation of the habit. Compared with never smokers, ex-smokers of >20 years had a relative risk (RR) of 1.98 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-3.8] for all upper aerodigestive tract cancers. RRs for long-term (>20 years) ex-smokers tended to be lower for mouth (RR = 1.61) and pharynx (RR = 1.52) than for larynx (RR = 3.63) cancers. The benefit of quitting was strongest for commercial cigarettes (RR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.7-3.0) for ex-smokers of >10 years, as compared with smoking of black tobacco (RR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.4-4.6), cigars (RR = 2.59, 95% CI = 0.6-11.6), and pipe tobacco (RR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.3-8.8).
ABSTRACT. The main objective of the first survey was the investigation of the prevalence and distribution of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and cigarette smoking in the study area. The data‐collection phase lasted from October 1984 to May 1985. A two‐stage cluster sample of 5312 persons of German nationality was drawn from a population of 282,279 inhabitants, aged 25–64. The data were gathered through interview, physical examination and self‐administered questionnaire. A response of 79 % was achieved. Sixteen percent of men and 10 % of women had high blood pressure (BP) values (≥ 160/95 mmHg). Only 16 % of male and 34 % of female hypertensives had controlled BP values. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (≥6.72 mmol/L = ≥260 mg/dl) was 26 % in men and 22 % in women. Forty percent of men and 22 % of women reported they were current cigarette smokers. Among participants, aged 25–44, cigarette smoking was the most prevalent risk factor in men and women. Thirty‐seven percent of men and 52 % of women, aged 25–64, had none of the three major risk factors.
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