Cigarette smoking and the risk of pancreatic cancer: a case-control study

We proposed to investigate the relationship between smoking and pancreatic cancer. From February 2000 to February 2010, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study on pancreatic cancer. Information was collected by questionnaire. Cases were 307 patients with pancreatic cancer, 1,228 were healthy matched controls. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Compared to never smokers, current smokers had a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer, OR 1.71 (95 % CI 1.25-2.35). Among smokers, a significant association with higher smoking intensity was shown (>= 20 cigarettes/day: OR = 2.18; 95 % CI 1.66-3.69). A significantly decreasing trend in risk with increasing years after smoking cessation was observed (p < 0.01). The ORs were 0.73 (95 % CI 0.38-1.33) and 0.46 (95 % CI 0.21-0.94) for those who had quit smoking for <10 and >= 10 years, respectively. Our case-control study confirmed that cigarette smoking was associated with an increased risk of death from pancreatic cancer.