Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1991 Jul;81(7):846-9.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.81.7.846.

Tobacco smoking as a risk factor for colon polyps

Affiliations

Tobacco smoking as a risk factor for colon polyps

S H Zahm et al. Am J Public Health. 1991 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Data from a cancer screening project among pattern makers were used to evaluate the association between tobacco smoking and prevalence of colon polyps.

Methods: From 1981-1983, 549 White men were examined by flexible sigmoidoscopy and completed self-administered questionnaires including smoking histories.

Results: One or more colon polyps were detected in 76 men. Standardized prevalence rates (SPR) for polyps increased by smoking category (never smoked = 0.094; ex-smokers = 0.118, current smokers = 0.214) and by cigarettes per day, years of smoking, and pack-years among both current and ex-smokers. Both adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps showed an association with smoking while other types of polyps and polyps with unspecified histology did not. The risk associated with smoking was greater for polyps greater than one centimeter in diameter. An interaction with occupational exposures was suggested by a greater increase in the SPR for polyps among current smokers employed as pattern makers for more than 10 years than among current smokers similarly employed for 10 years or less.

Conclusions: Since at least some colon polyps are considered precursor lesions to colon cancer, one of the most common cancers in the United States, this report suggests that the possible link between colon polyps and smoking deserves further evaluation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. J Occup Med. 1985 Nov;27(11):809-12 - PubMed
    1. Cancer Detect Prev. 1985;8(3):393-8 - PubMed
    1. J Occup Med. 1986 Aug;28(8):709-13 - PubMed
    1. J Occup Med. 1986 Aug;28(8):719-27 - PubMed
    1. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1987 Jan;22(1):13-6 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources