Declining Lung Cancer Deaths in Young Australian Women Linked to Lower Tar Cigarettes
Author Information
Author(s): Leigh Blizzard, T Dwyer
Primary Institution: Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, University of Tasmania
Hypothesis
Is the declining lung cancer mortality in young Australian women related to reduced cigarette tar yields despite increased smoking rates?
Conclusion
Young Australian women have lower lung cancer mortality rates than previous generations, despite smoking more.
Supporting Evidence
- Lung cancer mortality rates for women aged 20-44 peaked in 1986.
- Age-adjusted mortality rates are lower for women born in the 1950s and 1960s compared to those born in the 1940s.
- Higher proportions of smokers and younger age of smoking commencement were observed in more recent cohorts.
Takeaway
Even though more young women in Australia are smoking, fewer of them are dying from lung cancer because cigarettes have less tar now.
Methodology
Lung cancer mortality data were analyzed for trends from 1965 to 1998, comparing age-specific mortality rates and smoking habits across different birth cohorts.
Participant Demographics
Young Australian women aged 20-44.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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