Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have suggested that smokers with new cancer diagnosis are more likely to quit smoking compared with those without cancer. However, up to 70% of cancer survivors continue to smoke. Smoking has a significant impact on mortality and morbidity of cancer patients. Aim: This study aimed to describe prevalence and predictors of sustained smoking after cancer diagnosis among smokers. Patients & Methods: 15,201 men who were first diagnosed with cancer between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2011 were included in the study. Data were obtained from The Korean National Health Insurance database. Changes in smoking status after diagnosis were investigated for patients with smoking related cancers and those with non-smoking related cancers. The association between sustained smoking and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables were examined. Results: Of the 4,680 smokers newly diagnosed with cancer, 2,265 (48%) quitted smoking and 279 (6%) reduced the amount of smoking. Sustained smoking rate was higher among patients with non-smoking related cancer (54%) than among patients with smoking related cancer (41%). In univariate analyses, age at cancer diagnosis, pre-diagnosis smoking amount, socioeconomic status, cancer type, and fasting serum glucose level were associated with sustained smoking (all p-values<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients who were younger (OR =1.36, 95% CI: 1.20-1.54, p <0.001); smoking >20 cigarettes per day (OR =1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.40, p=0.001); in low socioeconomic status (OR =1.29, 95% CI: 1.14-1.45, p<0.001); diagnosed with non-smoking related cancer (OR =1.67, 95% CI: 1.42-1.95, p<0.001); and had high blood glucose level (OR =1.25, 95% CI: 1.05-1.48, p=0.012) were more likely to continue smoking after cancer diagnosis. Conclusion: Almost half of male smokers continue to smoke after diagnosis of cancer. Patient age, amount of smoking, socioeconomic status, and type of cancer might need to be considered when implementing the intervention for smoking cessation.

Biography

Hye Yeon Koo has her expertise in chronic disease care and health promotion of cancer survivors. She has been taking responsibility for long-term cancer survivorship care at the cancer center in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Her recent research in long-term survivors of breast cancer shows her passion in behavioural intervention for cancer patients.