Measure of associations
Exercise 3.7
1. Rate ratio comparing current smokers with nonsmokers
Rate ration = rate of current smokers/rate of nonsmokers
(Rate of current smokers = rate of smokers per 1000 persons-years = 1.3)
(Rate of nonsmokers = rate of nonsmokers per 1000 persons-years = 0.07)
Rate ration = 1.3/0.07
=18.57
2. Rate ratio comparing ex-smokers who quit at least 20 years ago with nonsmokers
Rate ration = rate of ex-smokers quitting at 20 years/rate of nonsmokers
(Rate of ex-smokers quitting at 20 years = rate per 1000 persons-years = 0.19)
(Rate of nonsmokers = rate per 1000 persons-years = 0.07)
Rate ration = 0.19/0.07
= 2.71
3. What are the public health implications of these findings?
Based on the calculation above, it is evident that the rate of lung cancer incidences among smokers is way too high, 18 times, as compared to nonsmokers. This leads to the conclusion that, smoking is a factor contributing to the risk of lung cancer. This conclusion is further evidenced by the fact that, rate ration of lung cancer among those who quit smoking after 20 years as compared to nonsmokers is significantly less, approximately 3 times (CDC, 2006). This finding points...
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