We estimated the number of cancer cases caused by smoking by socio-economic deprivation in England in 2013-17, for 15 cancer sites. We used the population attributable fraction (PAF) method, and assumed a ten-year lag between smoking prevalence and cancer incidence.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable cancer and death in the UK. Deprived populations typically experience higher rates of smoking, and higher cancer incidence, compared to those less deprived.
If smoking rates in all areas of England had been the same as in the least deprived areas, 20% (5,504 cases every year) of deprivation-associated cancer cases in 2013-17 could have been prevented.
If nobody had smoked in England, 61% (16,544 cases every year) of deprivation-associated cancer cases in 2013-17 could have been prevented.
Socioeconomic inequalities in smoking prevalence account for a large proportion of the deprivation gap in cancer incidence. Efforts to reduce smoking prevalence should always bear in mind these inequalities.
Read the full journal on the PubMed websiteNick W S Payne, Katrina F Brown, Christine Delon, Yannis Kotrotsios, Isabelle Soerjomataram, Jon Shelton.
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