Smoking History, Smoking Intensity, and Type of Cigarette as Risk Factors of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Smoking is a major risk factor that plays a role in the incidence of bladder cancer. Carcinogens from cigarettes are excreted through the urine, so direct contact with the urinary tract occurs and increases the risk of malignancy. Literature is obtained from the search results of PubMed, Medscape, and Science Direct electronic databases with some keywords used. Starting in 2009, 88 literature results were collected through the electronic databases of PubMed, Medscape, and Science Direct. After applying the exclusion criteria, 12 articles are included in this literature review with 536,989 bladder cancer patients and 52,753 controls in total. High clove cigarette smoking intensity (>40 cigarettes/day) is a risk of causing urothelial carcinoma bladder cancer. Clove cigarettes pose the highest risk of bladder cancer. Compared to clove cigarette, cigars, and tobacco pipes have relatively lower risk of causing bladder cancer. Meanwhile, other types of cigarettes, such as shisha and electronic cigarettes, do not eliminate the risk of bladder cancer. Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for bladder cancer. The current smoking history was associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer compared to the former history of smoking. Different types of smoking have different risks of bladder cancer.