[Social class and bronchial cancer: the social structure in comparison to the total population]

400 male lung cancer patients were analysed according to their social class distribution and compared with the relevant age group of the Austrian population. There are significantly more lower class people among lung cancer patients than in the general population. The higher lung cancer risk in lower social classes, therefore, may be associated with social factors. These may influence smoking habits, the main cause of lung cancer: lower class people are more often cigarette smokers, less exsmokers and prefere high tar cigarettes.