Association between Risk Factors and the Existence of Lung Malignancies in a Population from the South-West Romania: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Introduction: Lung cancer, one of the most prominent malignancies of today worldwide, affects mainly men; however, recently women have also been increasingly afflicted by the disease. Our aim was to retrospectively analyze a series of potential risk factors for the disease and their potential to affect both genders.

Methods: Our retrospective study relied on anonymized data collected between 2017 and 2020 at a single hospital specialized on lung diseases. After receiving ethical clearance, data pertaining to risk factors as well as statistical aspects of the lot were recorded and analyzed.

Results: We found 493 patients (398 men) aged between 31 and 90 years (median 67) who were found with lung tumors and selected a matched cohort of patients with other diseases. We found positive associations between the presence of smoking, COPD, or pollution and the occurrence of lung cancer. Almost all lung cancer patients presented different significant associated diseases. Family history also favored the appearance of lung cancer.

Conclusion: Several risk factors remain high in lung tumor patients, and rapid measures to diminish the impact of such factors are needed in order to decrease the overall incidence of this pathology.

Keywords: COPD; Lung cancer; air pollution; risk factors; smoking.

Figure 1

Age histogram for males and females, composite view

Figure 2

Gender distribution per diagnostic