The 'Population Attributable Risk Percent' (PAR%) for smoking in lung cancer is 85%. This means:

• A Smokers have an 85% higher risk of lung cancer compared to non-smokers
• B Eliminating smoking would reduce lung cancer incidence by 85% among current smokers only
• C 85% of all lung cancer cases in the total population are attributable to smoking ✓
• D 85% of lung cancer cases occur in people who have ever smoked

Explanation

Population Attributable Risk Percent (PAR% or aetiologic fraction) represents the proportion of disease cases in the total population that can be attributed to (and would be eliminated by removing) the exposure. PAR% = [(Incidence in total population — Incidence in unexposed) / Incidence in total population] × 100. A PAR% of 85% means 85% of all lung cancer cases in the entire population (both smokers and non-smokers) are attributable to smoking; eliminating smoking would theoretically reduce the lung cancer burden by 85% at the population level. This is different from the Attributable Risk Percent in the exposed (AR% = excess risk in smokers as a percentage of their total risk).

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.