Avian exposure and risk of lung cancer in women in Missouri: population based case-control study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the association, previously reported in three European studies, between ownership of pet birds and the risk of lung cancer. Design: A population based case-control study with a structured questionnaire administered by telephone. Setting: Missouri, a midwestern state in the United States with a population of about 5 million. Subjects: All newly diagnosed cases of primary lung cancer in women aged 30–84 years in Missouri from 1 January 1993 to 31 January 1994 reported to the state cancer registry were invited to participate (n = 652); and 629 population based controls. Main outcome measures: Odds ratios were computed in relation to whether or not the study subject ever kept pet birds, the type of bird kept, and several measures of intensity or duration of exposure. Odds ratios were adjusted for smoking. Results: The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the development of lung cancer associated with keeping pet birds was 0.84 (0.65 to 1.09). The results were similar for the type of pet bird kept, the number of birds kept, the location of the bird in the house, and the duration of ownership. Conclusion: The keeping of pet birds carries no excess risk for the development of lung cancer. A population based case-control study of lung cancer among women in Missouri was conducted with detailed questions about the duration of bird ownership, the number and type of birds owned, and where in the home the birds were kept The study in Missouri was larger than previously conducted studies and had extensive information on other risk factors for lung cancer No excess risk was found with any measure of exposure to birds The association previously reported may not be due intrinsically to birds