Open AccessOccupational risks of esophageal cancer in Taiwanese men
Author(s) -
Huang ShihHui,
Wu IChen,
Wu DengChyang,
Wu ChunChieh,
Yang JengFu,
Chen YuKuei,
Chai CheeYin,
Chiu YuWen,
Huang ChiaTsuan,
Lee TzuChi,
Wu MingTsang
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2012.04.034
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , esophageal squamous cell carcinoma , case control study , esophageal cancer , occupational exposure , cancer , environmental health
This study aims to explore whether certain occupations were associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Taiwan. In a hospital‐based case‐control study, we collected 326 newly diagnosed ESCC patients and 386 age‐matched controls (the ratio of case patients: controls = 1:1–2). All respondents completed a questionnaire, including 33 occupations in which environments potential exposure to cancer‐related hazards are present. Workers with dust and metal exposure were categorized into Groups A and B, respectively. Relative risks for ESCC were estimated by odds ratios adjusting for covariates (AOR). Compared with the controls, farmer/gardener (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.02–4.24) and workers in Group A (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.21–6.47) had significantly higher risk for developing ESCC. A tendency of increased risk was also found in workers in group B (OR = 5.72 95% CI = 2.33–14.03), but such association was not significant after adjusting for other covariates (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 0.54–6.61). Our results suggested that farmer/gardener and workers with exposure to dust had a significant excess risk of ESCC. This study added further evidence to the current knowledge that occupational hazards are important in the development of ESCC.