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[Preprint]. 2025 Mar 14:2025.03.11.25323738. [Version 1] doi: 10.1101/2025.03.11.25323738

Table 1.

Association between baseline characteristics and lung cancer mortality in life-long never smokers: Follow-up of study members in the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Surveys

Number of people Number of deaths Hazard ratio (95% CI) p-value
Socio-demographic factors
Age (10-year change) 91588 85 2.45 (2.11, 2.85) <0.001
Male vs female 91588 85 2.25 (1.46, 3.48) <0.001
Non-white ethnicity vs white 91530 85 0.79 (0.28, 2.23) 0.65
Low educational attainment vs higher 91487 85 1.09 (0.69, 1.73) 0.71
Manual occupational social class vs non-manual 84051 79 1.02 (0.65, 1.59) 0.94
Health behaviours
High fruit and vegetable consumption (≥5 servings/day) vs less 91588 85 2.29 (1.25, 4.17) <0.01
Consumes alcoholic beverages vs abstinence 90305 85 1.51 (0.77, 2.95) 0.23
Low leisure time physical activity vs higher 56436 50 1.09 (0.61, 1.96) 0.76
Passive smoking (≥0.1 ng/mL blood/saliva cotinine) vs lower 39384 32 0.86 (0.33, 2.25) 0.75
Health history
Poor self-reported general health vs higher 91576 85 1.07 (0.46, 2.47) 0.87
High psychological distress (GHQ-12≥4) versus lower 91588 85 1.26 (0.74, 2.15) 0.39
Physiological factors
Sex-standardised z-score for BMI 82366 69 1.24 (0.97, 1.59) 0.09
Sex-standardised z-score for height 86047 72 1.06 (0.83, 1.37) 0.63
Per doubling of C-reactive protein (mg/L) 19007 24 1.04 (0.80, 1.34) 0.78
Respiratory factors
Any longstanding respiratory condition vs none 91576 85 1.13 (0.52, 2.46) 0.75
Use of any respiratory medication vs none 84838 80 1.19 (0.52, 2.74) 0.68
Global Lung Function Initiative z-score FEV1 25085 23 1.27 (0.91, 1.77) 0.15
Global Lung Function Initiative z-score FVC 25085 23 1.26 (0.90, 1.76) 0.18
Global Lung Function Initiative z-score FEV1/FVC 25085 23 1.14 (0.83, 1.57) 0.42

Hazard ratios are age- and sex-adjusted. In selected survey years, no attempt was made to collect data on CRP, lung function, physical activity, and cotinine hence the lower sample size. GHQ-12, 12-item General Health Questionnaire; BMI, body mass index; FEV1, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second; FVC, Forced Vital Capacity