Is opium use associated with an increased risk of lung cancer? A case-control study.

Ahmad Naghibzadeh-Tahami, Maryam Marzban, Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi, Shahryar Dabiri, Shokrollah Mohseni, Reza Abbasi Rayeni, Mitra Samareh Fekri, Mohammad Hasan Larizadeh, Behnaz Karimpour, Narges Khanjani

Journal: BMC cancer 2021;20(1):807

PMID: 32842991

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

In recent years, lung cancer (LC) incidence has increased in Iran. The use of opium and its derivatives (O&D) has increased as well. This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of O&D and LC incidence.

METHODS

In this case-control study conducted in Kerman, Iran; 140 patients with lung cancer and 280 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and place of residence were included. Data, including O&D use, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and diet, were collected using a structured questionnaire. The relation between the use of O&D and LC was evaluated using conditional logistic regression adjusted for tobacco smoking, education, daily intake of fruit, vegetables, red meat, and hydrogenated fats.

RESULTS

Opium ever-use was associated with an increased risk of LC (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =5.95, 95% CI: 1.87-18.92). Participants were divided into low and high use groups based on the median of opium use in the control group. A significant dose-response relation was observed between the amount of daily O&D use and LC; and the relation was stronger in high users (AOR = 3.81% CI: 1.13-12.77 and OR = 9.36, 95% CI: 2.05-42.72). Also, LC was higher among participants starting the use of O&D at younger ages (≤ 41 years old vs never users AOR = 8.64, 95% CI: 1.90-39.18) compared to those who started at an older age (> 41 years old vs never users, AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.38-16.08). The association between opium, and lung cancer among non-smokers was OR: 6.50 (95% CI: 2.89 to 14.64).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that opium use is probably a dose related risk factor for lung cancer.

Address: Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Pathology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.; Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. [email protected].; Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. [email protected].; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman Medical University (KMU), Haft Bagh Alavi Highway, Kerman, 76169-11317, Iran. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07296-0

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MeSH Terms: Age Factors, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Case-Control Studies, Cigarette Smoking, Female, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Iran, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Non-Smokers, Opium, Registries, Risk Factors, Smokers, Smoking, Non-Tobacco Products