Lung cancer in smokers versus nonsmokers: a retrospective analysis over a 5-year period

Abstract

Background and aim Lung cancer is well known in tobacco smokers. It affects nonsmokers as well. This research was undertaken to analyse whether primary lung cancer in nonsmokers is on an increasing trend and also study the differences in clinicopathological patterns and disease staging in smokers versus nonsmokers. Patients and methods A retrospective record-based study of 198 primary lung cancer patients from January 2012 to December 2017 in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine in a tertiary-care centre in South India was done. Symptomatology, histopathology, and stage of presentation of lung cancer were compared between smokers and nonsmokers. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was done using SPSS, version 18.0. Frequencies were calculated. Associations were calculated using the χ2 test. Results Out of 198 patients, 153 patients were men and 45 were women. The mean age of patients was 51.78 years. Of these, 88 (44.4%) patients were smokers and 110 (55.6%) patients were nonsmokers. Cough, chest pain, and breathlessness were major symptoms in nonsmokers and fever, hemoptysis, and hoarseness of voice in smokers. Adenocarcinoma was the most common cancer affecting both smokers and nonsmokers (P=0.691). Majority of patients presented in stage IV, 71 (54.6%) and 59 (45.4%) in nonsmokers and smokers, respectively (P=0.787). Conclusion In our study, primary lung cancer patients comprised more nonsmokers than smokers with a predominance of nonsmoker men. Lung cancer histopathology was predominantly adenocarcinoma. Majority of patients presented with stage IV of lung cancer and 10% of patients were inappropriately treated with antitubercular therapy.