Latest news with #lungCancer
Medscape
4 days ago
- General
- Medscape
Poor Air Quality Linked to Higher Risk for Mortality in COPD
Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were vulnerable to even small increases in fine particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), with significantly higher risk among those with comorbidities such as lung cancer, coronary arterial disease, or chronic kidney disease. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis to assess the association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and all-cause mortality in veterans with COPD. They included 1,124,973 veterans (mean age, 68 years; 95.60% men) diagnosed with COPD between 2016 and 2019 who were enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration. They obtained ambient PM2.5 concentrations from annual air pollution models from 2000 to 2016, available at NASA's Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center; the average 5-year PM2.5 exposure for the cohort was 8.18 µg/m 3 . . The odds of all-cause mortality associated with 5-year average PM2.5 exposure were estimated, and comorbidities associated with mortality were identified. TAKEAWAY: Each 1 μg/m 3 increase in long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 3.8% increase in the odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.038; 95% CI, 1.035-1.040) among patients with COPD. increase in long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 3.8% increase in the odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.038; 95% CI, 1.035-1.040) among patients with COPD. Individuals with comorbidities such as lung cancer (aOR, 1.051; 95% CI, 1.035-1.068), coronary arterial disease (aOR, 1.039; 95% CI, 1.033-1.044), and chronic kidney disease (aOR, 1.042; 95% CI, 1.034-1.049) showed higher susceptibility to PM2.5 exposure than those without comorbidities. Men, individuals living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, and those identifying as Asian had higher odds of mortality with increasing PM2.5 exposure. Decreases in PM2.5 concentrations were associated with lower odds of all-cause mortality at all exposure levels for patients with COPD and those with additional comorbidities. IN PRACTICE: 'Our findings suggest that even small decreases in PM2.5 NAAQS [National Ambient Air Quality Standards] will benefit the millions of Americans living with COPD,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Camille Robichaux, MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. It was published online on May 2, 2025, in Annals of the American Thoracic Society . LIMITATIONS: The veteran population studied was older, consisted solely of men, and had a higher prevalence of smoking and comorbidities, potentially limiting generalizability. Additionally, the use of modeled data for air pollution exposure, rather than direct measurements, may not have provided an accurate representation of individual exposure levels. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; and others. Resources and facilities were provided by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Sleep problem that affects 10million people in UK could trigger world's deadliest cancer, first-of-its-kind study warns
HEAVY snorers could be at risk of the world's deadliest cancer, a shock new study has revealed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has previously been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. 1 Now, in a world-first trial, a "significant" link has been found between the condition and lung cancer. US researchers, who assessed the health records of more than 2.4 million adults, say they're not exactly sure why it raises the risk. But they believe it could be due to a lack of oxygen people with the condition get during the night - or lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity. The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago. Scientists present urged policymakers to consider screening those with OSA for the cancer, and to tackle the condition early, soon after diagnosis. Globally, an estimated 936 million adults aged 30-69 years are affected by OSA. The condition occurs when the muscles in the throat relax too much during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close, interrupting breathing. This can happen due to several factors, including obesity, a large neck or collar size, structural abnormalities like a small lower jaw or a large tongue, and other medical conditions. Common symptoms include breathing stopping and starting, making gasping, snorting or choking noises, waking up a lot, and loud snoring, says the NHS. According to the Sleep Apnoea Trust, as many as 10 million people in the UK suffer from OSA – with up to four million of these suffering either severely or moderately - although it's considered to be underdiagnosed. I'm a doctor and these 5 changes could be a sign of deadly lung cancer It's important to note while snoring is a common symptom of OSA, it's not a guaranteed sign. In the study, researchers at Marshall University in West Virginia tracked lung cancer diagnoses and separated those diagnosed with OSA and those without. After accounting for different influential factors, such as age, people with OSA were found to be 1.21 times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those without the sleep disorder. Dr Jowan Al-Nusair, study co-author and physician at Marshall University told MailOnline it was "one of the first statistically significant studies" to prove a link between the condition and lung cancer. She added: "While further studies are definitely now needed to investigate just how the significant the link truly is, this suggests OSA may be a preventable risk factor for lung cancer. "We should be more closely monitoring patients with OSA. Patients would definitely benefit from screening and early intervention to combat OSA. "Additional studies are essential to understand exactly why OSA may increase this risk. "We really hope this will pave the way for future research and testing." Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In the UK, around 35,000 people die from lung cancer each year. The primary cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoke, accounting for the vast majority of cases. But lung cancer cases are now rising among young people who have never smoked, with some experts attributing this to factors like air pollution. Do you have obstructive sleep apnoea? Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Sleep apnoea needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems. Symptoms mainly happen while you're asleep, they include: breathing stopping and starting making gasping, snorting or choking noises waking up a lot loud snoring During the day, you may also: feel very tired find it hard to concentrate have mood swings have a headache when you wake up It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea. It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms. If a GP thinks you might have sleep apnoea, they may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests. Source: NHS
