Skip to main content

Lung Nodules Present in 42.0 Percent of Nonsmokers

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 14, 2024.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, Aug. 13, 2024 -- Lung nodules are present in 42.0 percent of nonsmokers in a Northern European population, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Radiology.

Jiali Cai, M.D., from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, and colleagues examined the prevalence and size distribution of solid lung nodules by age and sex in a nonsmoking population in the Northern Netherlands. Adults aged 45 years and older with completed lung function tests underwent chest low-dose computed tomography scans. The presence and size of solid lung nodules measuring 30 mm3 or greater were registered by seven trained readers using semiautomated software.

Data were included for 10,431 participants (46.1 and 53.9 percent never smokers and former smokers). The researchers found that 42.0 percent of the participants had at least one lung nodule. From age 45 to 49.9 years to age 80 years or older, the prevalence of lung nodules increased (male participants: 39.4 to 60.7 percent; female participants: 27.7 to 50.9 percent). In 11.1 percent of participants, clinically relevant lung nodules were present, with prevalence increasing with age (men: 8.5 to 24.4 percent; women: 3.7 to 15.6 percent); actionable nodules were present in 1.1 to 6.4 percent and in 0.6 to 4.9 percent of male and female participants, respectively.

"The overall prevalence of lung nodules was 42.0 percent, with clinically relevant nodules (11.1 percent) and actionable nodules (2.3 percent) requiring further evaluation found to be fairly common," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Rebound Weight Gain Common After Discontinuing Antiobesity Medications

FRIDAY, July 25, 2025 -- Antiobesity medications (AOMs) yield weight loss during use, followed by weight regain after discontinuation of treatment, according to a review published...

Patients Face High Out-of-Pocket Costs After Incident Cancer Diagnosis

FRIDAY, July 25, 2025 -- Patients face high out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs) after an incident diagnosis of cancer, with costs increasing with stage of diagnosis, according to a study...

Exposure to PFAS Mixtures Linked to Increased Odds of Type 2 Diabetes

FRIDAY, July 25, 2025 -- In multiethnic populations, exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) mixtures may be associated with increased odds of type 2 diabetes (T2D)...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.