Although combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) might be relevant to lung cancer, no comparison studies have been done. We evaluated the risk of lung cancer among CPFE patients compared to IPF and emphysema patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed as CPFE, IPF and emphysema using chest CT scans at Seoul National University Hospital from Jan 2000 to Dec 2011. Patients with CPFE were enrolled and matched (1:1:2) with IPF and emphysema patients based on the radiological criteria. The main outcome was time to diagnosis of lung cancer and evaluated with Cox-proportional hazard regression. Forty-eight CPFE, 48 IPF, and 96 emphysema patients were included in this study. Twenty-five cases of lung cancer occurred. The CPFE group had a higher risk of lung cancer (adjusted HR 4.62, 95% CI 1.58-13.55) than that of the emphysema group. Also, IPF group had a higher risk of lung cancer (adjusted HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.03-16.78) than that of emphysema group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in lung cancer risk between the CPFE and IPF group. Additionally, the CPFE group had a higher risk of lung cancer or death (adjusted HR 4.62, 95% CI 2.25-9.47) than that of the emphysema group. In conclusion, patients with CPFE and IPF had a higher risk of lung cancer than those with emphysema, although lung cancer risk was similar between CPFE and IPF.
COPD frequently and subliminally coexists with NSCLC. Although differences in clinical characteristic did exist, there was no impact of COPD on the mortality of patients with NSCLC with a positive smoking history in this study.
ObjectivesDespite a sharp increase in e-cigarette use, there is debate about whether e-cigarettes are a viable alternative for harm reduction, and the forms that regulation should take. Healthcare providers can be effective in offering guidance to patients and their families and shaping regulatory policy. We described lung cancer specialists’ attitudes toward e-cigarettes and its regulation.MethodsWe undertook a nationwide survey of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, medical and radiological oncologists who are members of Korean Association for Lung Cancer. Survey items included beliefs and attitudes toward e-cigarettes, attitudes toward e-cigarette regulation and preparedness on discussing e-cigarettes with their patients.ResultsMost respondents believed that e-cigarettes are not safer than conventional tobacco cigarettes (75.7%) or smokeless tobacco (83.2%), and feared that discussing e-cigarettes with the patients would encourage use (65.4%). They did not consider it a smoking cessation treatment (78.3%), and thus would not recommend it to smokers who do not want to quit (82.2%) or who failed to quit with conventional smoking cessation treatment (74.1%). Most respondents supported all examples of e-cigarette regulations, including the safety and quality check (97.8%), warning label (97.8%), advertisement ban (95.1%), restriction of flavoring (78.4%), minimum purchasing age (99.5%), and restriction of indoor use (94.6%). Most learned about e-cigarettes from media and advertisements, or conversation with patients rather than through professional scientific resources, and reported discomfort when discussing e-cigarette with patients.ConclusionLung cancer specialist physicians in Korea doubt the safety of e-cigarette and use of e-cigarette as smoking cessation treatment, and supported strict regulation. However, only 20% reported that they obtained information on e-cigarettes from the scientific literature and many lacked adequate knowledge based on scientific evidence, suggesting the need for better preparedness. Nevertheless, the views of professionals revealed from our study could help to develop clinical guidelines and regulatory guidance.
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