Former smokers who quit over 10 years ago still show elevated lung cancer and other-cause mortality, questioning current screening eligibility criteria.
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The study analyzed 24,715 participants, revealing that former smokers' mortality risk varies significantly based on age at cessation.
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Lung cancer mortality does not decrease with longer cessation times, indicating persistent biological risk after substantial cumulative exposure.
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Findings suggest that former smokers who previously met screening criteria may still warrant consideration for lung cancer screening.
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The study's observational nature and limitations highlight the need for larger studies to assess the impact of modifying screening age limits.
