Early morning smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer, a new study reveals.
The findings are from a study that showed smokers who spent less time smoking the first cigarette of the day were more likely to develop lung cancer.
For the study, researchers analysed data from both the "Environment and Genetics in Lung Cancer Etiology" (EAGLE) study of current and former smokers in Italy and the "Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer" screening trial in the United States. Participants were required to fill out questionnaires about their smoking history and habits and to answer the question, "How soon after you wake up do you usually smoke your first cigarette of the day?"
They were divided into different groups: 5 or fewer, 6-30, 31-60 and more than 60 minutes.
Researchers examined the sample of 3,249 smokers from the EAGLE study. According to the researchers, 1,812 were lung cancer patients and 1,437 belonged to a control group. Researchers also accounted for smoking intensity, duration and other lung cancer risk factors.
The findings revealed the risk of developing lung cancer was significantly higher in those who smoked earlier after waking up. Researchers said this was true for both current and former smokers.
"Assessing TTFC may improve lung cancer risk prediction and could be useful in lung cancer screening and smoking cessation programs," researchers concluded.
Various aspects related to smoking, such as number of cigarettes smoked per day, duration of smoking, and pack years are standard markers of nicotine dependency. The team said that the 'time to first cigarette' (TTFC) can also predict risk of developing lung cancer.
The findings were published June 19 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
