Objective: To explore the risk factors of lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese women and to provide evidence for lung cancer prevention and control.
Methods: Information was collected on case-control studies published in the journals, both nationally and internationally from January, 1995 to November, 2014 that reported correlations between lung cancer and risk factors. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of risk factors on lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese women were calculated, using the Meta-analysis method, with sensitivity and publication bias tested.
Results: Information on 24 case-control studies was selected including 11 946 cumulative cases and 12 596 controls. Pooled ORs (95% CI) were shown as: history of lung diseases 1.89 (1.57, 2.27), history of tuberculosis 1.86 (1.53, 2.27), history of chronic bronchitis 1.51 (1.04, 2.19), family history of cancers 2.02 (1.67, 2.44), family history of lung cancers 2.45 (1.80, 3.34), passive smoking (at workplace in adult period 1.47 (1.28, 1.69), at home in adulthood 1.22 (1.09, 1.36), in all life's time 1.52 (1.29, 1.79), kitchen smog while cooking 2.21 (1.27, 2.96), position of kitchen 1.76 (1.48, 2.09), and frequency of deep frying per week 2.24 (1.61, 3.12) etc. respectively.
Conclusion: Major risk factors related to lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese women would include lung diseases, family history of cancers, and passive smoking (tobacco smog and cooking smog). Particularly, the combination of family history and the degree of cooking presented stronger correlation effects, indicating that genetic and environmental factors jointly played an important role in the development of lung cancer.