A study providing evidence for the causal relationship between smoking and the incidence of lung cancer and laryngeal cancer was released ahead of the final arguments in the tobacco lawsuit appeal.
According to a study conducted jointly by the National Health Insurance Corporation and the Graduate School of Public Health at Yonsei University on the risk of lung cancer incidence based on smoking history, smokers with a history of more than 30 years or 20 pack-years (one pack a day for 20 years) showed a risk of developing small cell lung cancer approximately 54 times higher than non-smokers. The impact of smoking on the occurrence of small cell lung cancer reached 98%.
The research team tracked and observed health check-up data from 136,965 individuals who underwent examinations at 18 private screening centers nationwide from 2004 to 2013, as well as data on genetic risk scores (PRS), cancer registry data, and health insurance eligibility data. PRS data can confirm an individual's genetic risk for diseases based on genetic variations and their hereditary effects.
The study found that when gender, age, and alcohol consumption were the same, the risk of developing lung cancer and laryngeal cancer significantly varied depending on smoking status. Under these conditions, the risk of developing small cell lung cancer for smokers with a history of 'more than 30 years, 20 pack-years or more' was 54.49 times greater, while the risk for squamous cell lung cancer was 21.37 times and for squamous cell laryngeal cancer was 8.30 times higher.
In contrast, the variation in cancer incidence risk due to genetic factors was only 1.2 to 1.8 times. This indicates that smoking status and duration have a greater impact on cancer incidence than genetic factors.
The National Health Insurance Corporation noted, "This is the first time in Korea that the influence of genetic factors on the incidence of lung cancer and laryngeal cancer has been found to be non-existent or extremely minimal by utilizing genetic information," adding, "The significance of the study lies in its reaffirmation of the dangers of smoking."
This research finding has drawn more attention as it was announced ahead of the final arguments in the appeal of the 'tobacco lawsuit.' The National Health Insurance Corporation filed a lawsuit seeking 53.3 billion won in damages against tobacco companies in 2014. The 53.3 billion won represents the payout made by the corporation to 3,465 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and laryngeal cancer after smoking for more than 30 years or 20 pack-years.
Previously, the trial court ruled that it needed additional proof that patients diagnosed with cancer had no other risk factors besides smoking and decided in favor of the National Health Insurance Corporation. In response, the corporation appealed in December 2020 and is now approaching the final argument date on the 22nd of this month.
A spokesperson for the corporation said, "According to the court schedule, this will be the final argument, and Dr. Jeong Gi-seok, the corporation's chairperson and a specialist in respiratory medicine, is expected to attend and express his opinions directly."