Disparities

Research

Smoking behavior partially explains socioeconomic inequities in lung cancer incidence
Research has shown inequalities in lung cancer risk based on socioeconomic status and educational attainment. Researchers in the Netherlands recently sought to determine the role of smoking in these inequalities. The study used data from 391,251 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study to get information on smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption, education and lung cancer incidence. The study used participants’ highest level of educational attainment as an indicator of socioeconomic status. The researchers found that smoking explained about 50% of the inequalities in lung cancer risk due to differences in education. Diet did not seem to impact the inequity in risk among the participants with the lowest and highest education. Click here to read more. Click here to read an abstract of the study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Smoking common in bipolar patients
Research has shown that individuals with bipolar disorder use alcohol and illegal drugs at a much higher rate than the general public, but less is known about smoking rates in this population. A new study compared the prevalence of smoking among individuals with bipolar disorder to rates among the general public, a volunteer control group, schizophrenia patients, and patients with major depression. The study found that those with bipolar disorder were five times more likely to be current smokers and 2.6 times more likely to have ever smoked when compared to the general public. This increased to seven times more likely to be current smokers and four times more likely to have ever smoked when compared to the volunteer controls. Click here to read more. The study was published in Bipolar Disorders, an international journal of psychiatry and neurosciences.

Women more vulnerable to cigarette harm
Researchers in Sweden have found that there are significant genetic differences between men and women who develop lung disease. The study that is currently being conducted is looking at the interaction of the environment with the genes of twins. Since only a subset of smokers actually develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the researchers’ state that genetic factors must be involved with developing the disease. Smoking is the main behavioral risk factor for COPD. The study has found that 40% of chronic bronchitis can be accounted for by heritability and 14% of those genetic influences are linked to smoking. The study has also found gender differences in the impact of genetic factors on lung function with women being much more predisposed to the harmful respiratory problems related to cigarette smoking. Click here to read more.

Reports

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders of color sampling methodology: Strategies for collecting data in small, hidden, or hard-to-reach groups to reduce tobacco-related health disparities
This new report from the Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND) provides a brief overview of the problem of tobacco use among LGBTs and minority racial and ethnic groups, highlights the discussions and lessons learned from some of the most advanced researchers in this challenging field, and lists key research recommendations to help eliminate tobacco-related health disparities.  Click here to download the report.  For more information about TReND including a listing of TReND’s collaborators and research projects, click here.

International

AFN National Chief calls on government for commitment to First Nations tobacco reduction strategy (Canada)
In Canada, the native First Nations and Inuit populations have some of the highest rates of smoking in the nation. In 2006, the First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Strategy (FNITCS) was cancelled, leaving no tobacco control strategy in place for these disproportionately affected populations. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Phil Fontaine has expressed optimism at the Canadian government’s recent funding commitment for tobacco cessation programs that target Inuit youth and hopes that similar programs will be put in place for First Nations youth. AFN is creating a new tobacco control strategy to raise awareness about the negative effects of non-traditional tobacco use, build capacity to decrease secondhand smoke exposure, and improve tobacco use surveillance. Click here to read more.

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