Individuals with liver cancer and hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV/HCV) have a higher risk of dying after receiving a liver cancer diagnosis if they smoke, aidsmap reports.

Publishing their findings in Liver International, Swiss researchers studied 238 people with liver cancer who had at least 12 months of follow-up following their diagnosis. Upon entry into the study, 64 of these individuals disclosed that they were smokers. The smoking group was followed for a median 489 days while the nonsmoking group was followed for a median 1,170 days.

Smokers had a higher rate of liver cancer resulting from HBV or HCV than nonsmokers.

After adjusting the data for various risk factors, the researchers found that smoking was associated with a 2.41-fold increased risk of death during follow-up among those with HBV or HCV; there was no such increased risk associated with smoking among those without viral hepatitis.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.

To read the study abstract, click here.