Global lung cancer mortality related to tobacco drops, particulate matter rises in 2019
Key takeaways:
- Global trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality rates were based on the 2023 10 most populated countries.
- Some countries had contrasting findings from the global findings.
From 1990 to 2019, global lung cancer mortality rates related to tobacco have gone down, whereas rates related to ambient particulate matter have gone up, according to results published in eClinicalMedicine.
“Tobacco-associated lung cancer mortality is still 66%, and therefore continuing and strengthening efforts in tobacco cessation counseling is still critical,” Chinmay T. Jani, MD, clinical fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told Healio.
“The study underscores a shift in the landscape of lung cancer risk factors,” Jani added. “Beyond tobacco, increasing attention should be given to the environmental and occupational factors that influence lung cancer burden. Policymakers, health care providers and researchers need to collaborate to address these multi-faceted challenges with innovative approaches, ensuring equitable access to prevention and treatment globally.”
In this study, Jani and colleagues used data from the Global Burden of Disease database between 1990 and 2019 to uncover trachea, bronchus and lung cancer age-standardized mortality rates overall and by three risk factors: tobacco, air pollution and asbestos.
This research centered specifically on the 2023 10 most populated countries, which included Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and the U.S.
From 1990 to 2019, researchers discovered an 8% drop in global deaths due to trachea, bronchus and lung cancer. When divided by sex, this pattern held true for men only, as women experienced a rise in mortality.
By country, the study noted that the change in this mortality rate from 1990 to 2019 went up for China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan, whereas the rate went down for Bangladesh, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and the U.S.
A global reduction in trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality rates between 1990 and 2019 was also observed for deaths related to each of the three risk factors, according to the study.
Notably, some countries had contrasting findings from the global findings. Researchers reported that China and Indonesia faced higher age-standardized mortality rates related to tobacco in 2019 vs. 1990.
Another example of this was seen in China, India, Pakistan and Nigeria, which each experienced rises in air pollution-associated mortality rates during the assessed time period. Of the 10 countries, researchers found the highest trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality rate related to air pollution in China.
In this analysis, air pollution encompassed two types of pollution: ambient particulate matter (PM) and household air pollution. As opposed to the observed 62% reduction in trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality related to household air pollution, the study noted a 25% rise in trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality related to PM.
“One surprising result was the 25% increase in PM-associated mortality over the past 3 decades, highlighting an alarming trend that necessitates urgent policy interventions,” Jani told Healio.
Over 1990 to 2019, the U.S. average vs. global average of trachea, bronchus and lung cancer mortality rate related to asbestos was consistently greater, according to the study.
“Despite the reduction in asbestos-associated lung cancer mortality in the United States, the rate remains twice as high as the global average, which underscores the long-term impact of asbestos exposure,” Jani told Healio.
With these results in mind, Jani voiced two recommendations for clinicians.
“Be attentive to nonsmoking-related lung cancer cases due to air pollution, asbestos and even with no known risk factors,” Jani told Healio. “Additionally, advocate for molecular testing and personalized therapy in all lung cancer patients, as these insights are crucial for identifying actionable mutations and guiding targeted treatments.”
When asked about future studies, Jani told Healio about three possible directions this research could take based on what he found in the above study.
“One, focus on the association between air pollution (eg, PM2.5) and lung cancer, particularly the molecular alterations it induces,” Jani said. “Two, investigate non-tobacco-associated lung cancer, with a view to expanding screening guidelines to include environmental and occupational exposures. Lastly, examine disparities in global lung cancer risk and identify region-specific risk factors affecting different populations.”
Reference:
- Study by Sylvester, collaborators highlights global trends in risk factors linked to lung cancer deaths. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1070005. Published Jan. 9, 2025. Accessed Jan. 10, 2025.
For more information:
Chinmay T. Jani, MD, can be reached at ctj36@miami.edu.