Does smoking or alcohol modify the risk of Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive or -Negative Hodgkin Lymphoma?
GROUND: The aim was to investigate whether 2 subgroups of Hodgkin lymphoma (Epstein-Barr virus-positive and Epstein-Barr virus-negative) are associated with smoking or alcohol. METHODS: Patients with lymphoma diagnosed between age 16 and 69 years in geographically defined areas of England were recruited between 1998 and 2003. One control, matched to each lymphoma case on sex, date of birth, and area of residence, was randomly selected from population registers. Self-reported histories of tobacco and alcohol use were collected during face-to-face interviews with cases and controls. RESULTS: Compared with lifelong nonsmokers, ever-smokers were at increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (odds ratio =1.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.1–1.9). This excess was among current smokers, defined as smoking 2 years before diagnosis (1.7; 1.2–2.3). An increasing trend was observed with rising numbers of years smoked. Risks fell as the number of years stopped smoking increased, becoming equivalent to that
