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Mortality among urban policemen in Rome
Author(s) -
Forastiere Francesco,
Perucci Carlo A.,
di Pietro Antonio,
Miceli Maria,
Rapiti Elisabetta,
Bargagli Annamaria,
Borgia Piero
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700260607
Subject(s) - medicine , standardized mortality ratio , bladder cancer , odds ratio , cancer , epidemiology , cohort , breast cancer , lung cancer , cohort study , colorectal cancer , demography , sociology
Abstract A total of 3,868 urban policemen in Rome were investigated through a historical cohort study with emphasis on mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Overall mortality from cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, digestive and genitourinary diseases, and accidents was lower than expected. An excess risk of ischemic heart disease was observed among subjects aged less than 50 years [14 deaths, standardized mortality ratio (SMR = 1.63), 95% CI = 0.89–2.73], corresponding to workers with a short duration of employment and a short latency since first employment. Overall cancer mortality was as expected and no excess was found for lung cancer (82 deaths, SMR = 1.05). Increased mortality was observed from colon cancer (16 deaths, SMR = 1.47), melanoma (four deaths, SMR = 2.34), bladder cancer (13 deaths, SMR = 1.27), renal cancer (seven deaths, SMR = 1.39), and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (six deaths, SMR = 1.51), although none of the excesses were statistically significant. Two deaths from male breast cancer (SMR = 14.36) and three from cancer of endocrine glands were found (SMR = 3.44). Nested case‐control studies were conducted to evaluate cancer mortality risk by job category. Bladder cancer was significantly increased among car drivers (OR = 4.17); for kidney cancer, an increased odds ratio (OR = 2.27) was found among motorcyclists; non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma clustered among motorcyclists (OR = 5.14). In summary, excess risk for specific cancer sites (colon, male breast, and endocrine glands) might be linked to occupational exposures; professional drivers seem to be at higher risk of bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma.