RESEARCH - Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: a case-control study

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Eur Respir J 2008; 31:280-286

Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: a case–control study

S. Aldington1, M. Harwood1, B. 2, M. Weatherall3, L. Beckert1, A.

Hansell4, A. Pritchard1, G. 1, R. Beasley1,5 on behalf of the

Cannabis and Respiratory Disease Research Group

1 Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, 3 Wellington School of

Medicine & Health Sciences, Wellington, 2 Hugh Adam Cancer

Epidemiology Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 4

Imperial College London, London, and 5 University of Southampton,

Southampton, UK.

The aim of the present study was to determine the risk of lung cancer

associated with cannabis smoking.

A case–control study of lung cancer in adults 55 yrs of age was

conducted in eight district health boards in New Zealand. Cases were

identified from the New Zealand Cancer Registry and hospital

databases. Controls were randomly selected from the electoral roll,

with frequency matching to cases in 5-yr age groups and district

health boards. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to

assess possible risk factors, including cannabis use. The relative

risk of lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking was estimated by

logistic regression.

In total, 79 cases of lung cancer and 324 controls were included in

the study. The risk of lung cancer increased 8% (95% confidence

interval (CI) 2–15) for each joint-yr of cannabis smoking, after

adjustment for confounding variables including cigarette smoking, and

7% (95% CI 5–9) for each pack-yr of cigarette smoking, after

adjustment for confounding variables including cannabis smoking. The

highest tertile of cannabis use was associated with an increased risk

of lung cancer (relative risk 5.7 (95% CI 1.5–21.6)), after adjustment

for confounding variables including cigarette smoking.

In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that

long-term cannabis use increases the risk of lung cancer in young

adults.

http://www.erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/31/2/280

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