More men who have never smoked die of lung cancer than women

The research by an international team of scientists analysed data from 13 large studies, involving a total of around 2 million people, accessing 22 cancer registries from 10 countries.

The team led by Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society, in Atlanta, also revealed that among lifelong nonsmokers, African Americans and Asians living in Asia, but not in the USA, have higher death rates from lung cancer than people of European descent.

Thun and his colleagues have produced the largest overview to date of the incidence and deaths associated with lung cancer among self reported never smokers and they say their results do not stack up with previous research that suggests lung cancer risk among never smokers is increasing or that women have higher incidence rates than men.

The study was conducted to realise a better understanding of the factors other than active smoking that influence the risk of lung cancer, as well as the gender, racial and geographic disparities in incidence and mortality.

According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 1.4 million people worldwide die from lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death.

Up to 90% of lung cancer deaths are caused by exposure to cigarette smoke and, on average, current smokers are 15 times more likely to die from lung cancer than lifelong nonsmokers.