ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4297-6496
Current Organisation
IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
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Publisher: Japan Epidemiological Association
Date: 05-05-2018
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 26-01-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.GACETA.2019.07.002
Abstract: The TackSHS project aims to comprehensively elucidate the impact that exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) from cigarettes and second-hand aerosols (SHA) from electronic cigarettes have on the respiratory health of the European population according to socioeconomic characteristics and other determinants. The TackSHS project involves a series of coordinated studies carried out by 11 academic and public health organisations from six European countries. The project will investigate: a) the determinants of SHS and SHA exposure assessed at the in idual level (surveys on representative general population s les) and in common environments (environmental s ling in specific settings) b) the overall disease burden, mortality and morbidity attributable to such exposure and c) its economic impact in terms of direct health care costs. The project will also examine specific acute respiratory health changes in healthy in iduals and patients with respiratory diseases exposed to SHS and SHA. In addition, the project will examine the effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce SHS exposure in households where smoking is permitted. All these studies are inter-related and involve collaborative coordination among the participant organisations. The comprehensive, integrated approach of the TackSHS project will enable a significant step forward from the current status quo in the understanding of the impact of SHS and SHA exposure on health and provide the basis for health policy recommendations to help European countries to further reduce the harm caused by SHS and SHA exposure.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-03-2020
DOI: 10.1136/TOBACCOCONTROL-2019-055376
Abstract: Exposure to secondhand aerosol from e-cigarette (SHA) may pose harmful effects to bystanders. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, duration and determinants of SHA exposure in various indoor settings in 12 European countries. In 2017–2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study, the TackSHS survey, on a representative s le of the population aged ≥15 years in 12 European countries (Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain). We described the prevalence and duration of exposure to SHA in several indoor settings among 11 604 e-cigarette non-users. In idual-level and country-level characteristics associated with SHA exposure were also explored using multilevel logistic regression analyses. Overall, 16.0% of e-cigarette non-users were exposed to SHA in any indoor setting at least weekly, ranging from 4.3% in Spain to 29.6% in England. The median duration of SHA exposure among those who were exposed was 43 min/day. ‘Other indoor settings’ (eg, bar and restaurant) was reported as the place where most of e-cigarette non-users were exposed (8.3%), followed by workplace/educational venues (6.4%), home (5.8%), public transportation (3.5%) and private transportation (2.7%). SHA exposure was more likely to occur in certain groups of non-users: men, younger age groups, those with higher level of education, e-cigarette past users, current smokers, those perceiving SHA harmless and living in countries with a higher e-cigarette use prevalence. We found inequalities of SHA exposure across and within European countries. Governments should consider extending their tobacco smoke-free legislation to e-cigarettes to protect bystanders, particularly vulnerable populations such as young people. NCT02928536 .
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-05-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-020-65395-1
Abstract: The heterogeneity of tinnitus is likely accounting for the lack of effective treatment approaches. Headaches have been related to tinnitus, yet little is known on how headaches impact tinnitus. We use cross-sectional data from the Swedish Tinnitus Outreach Project to i) evaluate the association between headaches and tinnitus (n = 1,984 cases and 1,661 controls) and ii) investigate the phenotypic characteristics of tinnitus subjects with tinnitus (n = 660) or without (n = 1,879) headaches. In a multivariable logistic regression model, headache was significantly associated with any tinnitus (odds ratio, OR = 2.61) and more so with tinnitus as a big problem (as measured by the tinnitus functional index, TFI ≥ 48 OR = 5.63) or severe tinnitus (using the tinnitus handicap inventory, THI ≥ 58 OR = 4.99). When focusing on subjects with tinnitus, the prevalence of headaches was 26% and reached 40% in subjects with severe tinnitus. A large number of socioeconomic, phenotypic and psychological characteristics differed between headache and non-headache subjects with any tinnitus. With increasing tinnitus severity, fewer differences were found, the major ones being vertigo, neck pain and other pain syndromes, as well as stress and anxiety. Our study suggests that headaches could contribute to tinnitus distress and potentially its severity.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-07-2020
DOI: 10.3390/JCM9082412
Abstract: Many in iduals with tinnitus report experiencing hyperacusis (enhanced sensitivity to sounds). However, estimates of the association between hyperacusis and tinnitus is lacking. Here, we investigate this relationship in a Swedish study. A total of 3645 participants (1984 with tinnitus and 1661 without tinnitus) were enrolled via LifeGene, a study from the general Swedish population, aged 18–90 years, and provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, as well as presence of hyperacusis and its severity. Tinnitus presence and severity were self-reported or assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Phenotypes of tinnitus with (n = 1388) or without (n = 1044) hyperacusis were also compared. Of 1661 participants without tinnitus, 1098 (66.1%) were women and 563 were men (33.9%), and the mean (SD) age was 45.1 (12.9). Of 1984 participants with tinnitus, 1034 (52.1%) were women and 950 (47.9%) were men, and the mean (SD) age was 47.7 (14.0) years. Hyperacusis was associated with any tinnitus [Odds ratio (OR) 3.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.99–4.13], self-reported severe tinnitus (OR 7.43, 95% CI 5.06–10.9), and THI ≥ 58 (OR 12.1, 95% CI 7.06–20.6). The association with THI ≥ 58 was greater with increasing severity of hyperacusis, the ORs being 8.15 (95% CI 4.68–14.2) for moderate and 77.4 (95% CI 35.0–171.3) for severe hyperacusis. No difference between sexes was observed in the association between hyperacusis and tinnitus. The occurrence of hyperacusis in severe tinnitus is as high as 80%, showing a very tight relationship. Discriminating the pathophysiological mechanisms between the two conditions in cases of severe tinnitus will be challenging, and optimized study designs are necessary to better understand the mechanisms behind the strong relationship between hyperacusis and tinnitus.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 18-01-2019
DOI: 10.1136/TOBACCOCONTROL-2018-054726
Abstract: More than a decade after electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) hit the European market, we are still debating whether they may help or hinder tobacco control. It is therefore useful to explore the potential net effect of e-cigarette use in the general population. We annually conduct a face-to-face survey on smoking in Italy on a representative s le of the general population aged 15 years or over (52.4 million). A total of 15 406 subjects were interviewed in 2014–2018. We investigated the consequences of using e-cigarettes on tobacco smoking behaviour among ever and regular e-cigarette users. In all, 5.7% of our s le reported ever e-cigarette use. Multivariate analyses showed more use by men, ex-smokers and current smokers. E-cigarette use decreased with age and increased with education and calendar year. Only 1.1% of subjects were regular e-cigarette users. This prevalence rose from 0.4% in 2014–2015 to 1.8% in 2016–2017 and was 1.3% in 2018. Among 522 ever users, 13.2% stopped smoking after trying e-cigarettes and 22.2% started smoking or relapsed after using e-cigarettes. The corresponding estimates among regular users were 24.7% and 28.0%, respectively. Among Italian e-cigarette users, those (re)starting smoking after using e-cigarettes outnumber those who stop smoking after using e-cigarettes. From a public health point of view, e-cigarettes may have an unfavourable net effect. Consequently, if we are not able to prevent sales of e-cigarettes to non-smokers, this product will more likely stimulate smoking tobacco than reduce harm.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 26-04-2020
Abstract: Information is scanty on the patterns and settings of electronic cigarette use and on its possible adverse events. To fill the knowledge gap on these issues, we conducted a survey among ever-smokers attending smoking cessation services (SCS) in Italy. In 2016–2018, we enrolled 395 ever-smokers aged ⩾18 years who were current or former electronic cigarette users in 12 SCS from northern, central, and southern Italy. In all, 12.4% of ever smokers were regular, 9.4% occasional, and 78.2% past users of electronic cigarettes. Of all users, 93.8% consumed electronic cigarettes with nicotine, 95.9% used refillable devices, and 76.6% purchased electronic cigarette devices or liquids in vape shops. The mean duration of use was 3.7 months and the mean number of puffs per day was 86. Among users, 71.5% used electronic cigarettes in at least 1 smoke-free indoor environment, 53.7% in workplaces, 49.5% in restaurants and bars, 33.5% in train/metro stations or airports, and 18.4% in public transports. The use of electronic cigarettes in smoke-free environments significantly decreased with age and increased with duration of use and nicotine dependence. In our s le, 47.1% reported at least 1 adverse event attributable to electronic cigarette use: 19.5% dry cough, 12.0% dry mouth, 7.6% throat or mouth irritation, and 6.8% sore throat. In Italy, most conventional cigarette smokers use electronic cigarettes where smoking conventional cigarettes is prohibited. About half of users reported 1 or more symptoms attributable to electronic cigarettes, despite the relatively short duration of use.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 07-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S10552-019-01198-8
Abstract: Although smoking has not been associated with overall ovarian cancer risk, a different impact on various histotypes has been reported. Our aim is to provide an accurate, up-to-date estimate of the dose-risk relationships between cigarette smoking and epithelial ovarian cancer, overall and by histotypes. Using an innovative approach for the identification of original study publications, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies published on the topic until September 2018. Summary relative risks (RR) for cigarette smoking were estimated using random-effects models dose-risk relationships were evaluated using one-stage random-effects models with restricted cubic splines. Thirty-seven studies were considered in the meta-analysis. The summary RRs for current versus never smokers were 1.05 (95% confidence interval CI 0.95-1.16) for overall ovarian cancer, 1.78 (95% CI 1.52-2.07) for mucinous, 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.93) for clear cell, 0.81 (95% CI 0.73-0.91) for endometrioid, and 1.05 (95% CI 0.94 1.17) for serous cancer. The risk of borderline mucinous (RR 2.09) and serous (RR 1.16) tumors was higher than for invasive cancers (RR 1.44 and 0.95, respectively). For mucinous cancer, risk was noticeably higher with smoking intensity and duration (RR 2.35 for 20 cigarettes/day, and 2.11 for 20 years of smoking). A non-significant linear relation was found with smoking intensity, duration, and time since quitting for overall ovarian cancer and other histotypes. This uniquely large and comprehensive meta-analysis confirms that although cigarette smoking does not appear to be a risk factor for ovarian cancer, and it is even slightly protective for some rare histotypes, there is a strong dose-risk relationship with mucinous ovarian cancer.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 12-01-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.CRITREVONC.2019.07.019
Abstract: We aim to provide the most accurate and updated quantification of the effect of cigarette smoking on kidney cancer risk focusing on dose-response relationships. We conducted a meta-analysis, using an innovative approach combining an umbrella review and a traditional literature search. Fifty-six original studies were included, providing pooled relative risks (RR) of kidney cancer of 1.39 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.28-1.51) for current and 1.20 (95% CI: 1.14-1.27) for former compared with never smokers. Kidney cancer risk increased non-linearly with smoking intensity, the RR compared with never smokers being 1.18 (95% CI: 1.11-1.26) for five and 1.72 (95% CI: 1.52-1.95) for 30 cigarettes/day, and increased linearly with smoking duration, the RR being 1.70 (95% CI: 1.10-2.64) after 25 years. The risk linearly decreased with time-since-quitting. Even smoking few cigarettes per day significantly increases kidney cancer risk. Quitting smoking reduces the risk, the earlier the better.
Publisher: Japan Epidemiological Association
Date: 05-02-2021
Location: Italy
No related grants have been discovered for Alessandra Lugo.