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Charts for Physicians' Offices Relate 10-Year Risk for Death to Smoking Status
Researchers have developed simple charts, intended for posting in physicians' offices, showing the 10-year risk for dying from a variety of causes according to age, sex, and smoking status. The charts appear online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The single-page charts detail the risk for death from six kinds of cancer, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, accidents, and all causes. They show that the effect of smoking on mortality is similar to the effect of adding 5 to 10 years of aging.
The authors encourage physicians to post the charts and give them to patients. An editorial suggests that the charts "would have broader use and greater impact if provided as an interactive program that patients could be encouraged to use in the waiting room."
LINK(S):
JNCI article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
JNCI editorial (Free)
Associated Press story (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch June 11, 2008
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