Analysis of lens opacity and its influencing factors of medical radiation workers

Abstract

Objective: To explore the association between long-term low-dose radiation exposure and other influencing factors with the risk of lens opacity on medical radiation workers. Methods: In July 2019, a retrospective cohort study was conducted by collecting the basic demographic information, dose data and health inspection result of 2708 radiologists in 22 hospitals of Guangzhou from the Occupational Health Inspection Information System and the Personal Dose Monitoring System of the Guangdong Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Disease between 2010 to 2018. The association between the average annual effective dose and lens opacity risk was calculated by using Time-Dependent Cox Regression Model. Results: From 2010 to 2018, the incidence density of lens opacity was 185.90/10000 person years. Compared with the radiation workers in the age <30 years group (93.74%) , the 5-year normal rate of lens in the age ≥50 years group (72.51%) was lower (P<0.01) ; Compared with the radiation workers in the exposure age <10 years group (92.69%) , the 5-year normal rate of lens in more than 20 years exposed group (83.05%) was lower (P<0.01) . Multifactor analysis showed that age was an independent influencing factor for lens opacity in medical radiation workers (HR=14.485, P<0.01) . The risk of lens opacification increased by 4.9%, 10.1% and 15.5% in 30-, 40- and 50-years group, respectively. Gender, cigarette, alchol, type of work, length of service and annual effective dose had no significant effect on lens opacity (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Age is the main influencing factor of lens opacification in medical radiation workers, their radiation working time and intensity should be strictly controlled and radiation protection should be done.