Cancer risk among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study

Yi Ping Hung, Chung Jen Teng, Chia Jen Liu, Yu Wen Hu, Man Hsin Hung, Cheng Hwai Tzeng, Chun Yu Liu, Chiu Mei Yeh, Tzeng Ji Chen, Tzeon Jye Chiou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study is aimed to evaluate the cancer risk among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) using a nationwide population-based dataset. Patients without previous cancer who had been diagnosed with CWP and followed-up for more than 1 year between 1997 and 2006 were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancers in CWP patients were calculated and compared to the cancer incidence in the general population. Risk factors for cancer development were also analyzed. After a median follow-up of 9.68 years, 954 cancers developed among 8,051 recruited CWP patients, with a follow-up of 69,398 person-years. The SIR for all cancers was 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.18]. Males older than 80 years had a SIR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.06-1.51). The SIRs of esophageal (1.76, 95% CI: 1.24-2.44), gastric (1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.76), liver and biliary tract (1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.37) and lung and mediastinal (1.45, 95% CI: 1.26-1.66) cancers were significantly higher in the CWP group than in the general population. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years [hazard ratio (HR) 1.70, 95% CI: 1.41-2.05), male gender (HR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.44-2.23) and liver cirrhosis (HR = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.89-5.51) were significant predictors of cancer development in patients with CWP. We concluded that patients with CWP, especially elderly males, were at increased risk of cancer. Age, male gender and liver cirrhosis were independent risk factors for cancer development. What's new? Inhalation of coal dust causes pneumoconiosis, a group of lung diseases including fibrosis and emphysema. Using a nationwide population-based dataset with large patient numbers, this study revealed an increased cancer risk among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Asia. Male gender, advanced age, and liver cirrhosis were independent risk factors for cancer development that included esophagus, stomach, liver and lung tumors. The authors recommend intensified cancer surveillance in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis to accelerate cancer detection and optimize treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2910-2916
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Volume134
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 2014

Keywords

  • cancer risk
  • epidemiology
  • pneumoconiosis
  • population-based study
  • risk factors

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