Well-being - Research: Rise in Lung Cancer Detected in Hesse
A recent study reveals that the number of lung cancer cases in Hessen has substantially increased. Lung cancer diagnoses among women have seen a dramatic rise, as per a study conducted by the Barmer Institute for Health Research. In the year 2012, 4,100 Hessian women were diagnosed with lung cancer, but by 2022, this number had almost doubled to approximately 7,800. This signifies a 90% increase from 2012. On the other hand, the increase in lung cancer diagnoses among men was not as drastic, with a rise from 5,800 cases in 2012 to 8,000 a decade later, which marks a 38% increase.
Specialists attribute this alarming surge in lung cancer cases to altering smoking habits: Although the number of male smokers has been gradually reducing, the number of female smokers continued to grow until 2000. As Martin Till, the Barmer regional manager, highlights, "The evolving smoking patterns of the past decades are now manifesting in the escalating number of lung cancer diagnoses. Smoking remains the primary risk factor for lung cancer."
Despite the overall decrease in smoking, excessive tobacco consumption among employees in Hessen has experienced a significant upsurge in the last ten years, according to a report by the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH). 67 out of every 1,000 employees in Hessen needed treatment for addiction, withdrawal symptoms, sudden tobacco cravings, or psychological issues linked to tobacco usage in 2022. This accounts for one employee out of every 15. Compared to 2012, there has been a hike of roughly 28%. However, Hessen lags behind the national average and is among the bottom-ranked federal states in this comparison.
The KKH survey examined anonymized data from 675,000 insured employees with sickness benefit claims in 2012, 2019, and 2022.
Read also:
- Tough return to normality in snow and ice
- Fewer unauthorized entries: Domino effect through controls
- Trial against BND employee from mid-December
- Arrangement generates buzz: Rheinmetall becomes backer of BVB
- The increase in lung cancer cases in Hesse is predominantly among men and women, with a 90% rise in diagnoses among women from 2012 to 2022, as reported by the Barmer Institute for Health Research.
- The city of Frankfurt, located in the Hesse region, may also be impacted by these rising lung cancer diagnoses, as smoking remains the primary risk factor for this disease.
- In an attempt to combat this issue, Barmer and other organizations have advised against smoking, but unfortunately, excessive tobacco consumption among Hesse employees has seen an increase of approximately 28% in the last decade.
- Interested parties, such as health organizations, may wish to examine smoking habits in cities like Hanover, as they can serve as a comparison to Hesse's smoking trends and lung cancer rates.
- It is essential for women in particular to stay informed about the health risks associated with smoking, as they have experienced a more notable increase in lung cancer diagnoses compared to men in recent years.
Source:
