Ray M Merrill1, Aaron Frutos1. 1. Department of Health Science, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research has shown that higher altitude is associated with lower risk of lung cancer and improved survival among patients. The current study assessed the influence of county-level atmospheric pressure (a measure reflecting both altitude and temperature) on age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rates in the contiguous United States, with 2 forms of spatial regression. METHODS: Ordinary least squares regression and geographically weighted regression models were used to evaluate the impact of climate and other selected variables on lung cancer mortality, based on 2974 counties. RESULTS: Atmospheric pressure was significantly positively associated with lung cancer mortality, after controlling for sunlight, precipitation, PM2.5 (µg/m3), current smoker, and other selected variables. Positive county-level β coefficient estimates (P < .05) for atmospheric pressure were observed throughout the United States, higher in the eastern half of the country. CONCLUSION: The spatial regression models showed that atmospheric pressure is positively associated with age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rates, after controlling for other selected variables.
BACKGROUND: Research has shown that higher altitude is associated with lower risk of lung cancer and improved survival among patients. The current study assessed the influence of county-level atmospheric pressure (a measure reflecting both altitude and temperature) on age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rates in the contiguous United States, with 2 forms of spatial regression. METHODS: Ordinary least squares regression and geographically weighted regression models were used to evaluate the impact of climate and other selected variables on lung cancer mortality, based on 2974 counties. RESULTS: Atmospheric pressure was significantly positively associated with lung cancer mortality, after controlling for sunlight, precipitation, PM2.5 (µg/m3), current smoker, and other selected variables. Positive county-level β coefficient estimates (P < .05) for atmospheric pressure were observed throughout the United States, higher in the eastern half of the country. CONCLUSION: The spatial regression models showed that atmospheric pressure is positively associated with age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rates, after controlling for other selected variables.
Entities:
Keywords:
altitude; atmospheric pressure; lung cancer mortality; spatial regression; temperature
Authors: Rebecca L Siegel; Stacey A Fedewa; Kimberly D Miller; Ann Goding-Sauer; Paulo S Pinheiro; Dinorah Martinez-Tyson; Ahmedin Jemal Journal: CA Cancer J Clin Date: 2015-09-16 Impact factor: 508.702