Smoking and mortality: A prospective study

Abstract

The principal aim of the study concentrates on cigarette smoking and its relation with mortality. The population assembled for study was limited to men 35-64 years of age. Each man had an opportunity for a minimum observation period of 5-years. A direct method of age standardization was used in order to compare the smoking group with nonsmokers. Prospective studies reported in recent years are in essential agreement that cigarette smoking increases the risk for the cancer of the mouth larynx esophagus lung kidney and bladder. Other diseases related to cigarette smoking in this and other prospective studies are gastric ulcer emphysema aneurysm general arteriosclerosis and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The latter is especially important because of the large number of deaths involved. The relative risk gradient for arteriosclerotic heart disease by age and amount of cigarette smoking was found to be maximum in the younger group comprising men 35-44 years of age and lessens with increasing age. There is an unanimity among all the studies discussed for increased smokers risk of cancer of the mouth larynx esophagus kidney and bladder. Tables represent the number of cancer deaths observed and the smoking amount risk gradients relative to the risk for nonsmokers. The mortality ratios is represented in their variations by duration of smoking. The increase by duration categories is steady. Evidence from these studies has consistently pointed to a connection between cigarette smoking and deaths from lung cancer emphysema and other conditions. Additiona investigation needs to be instituted.