Abstract
ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to describe the relationship between occupational exposures and thedevelopment of lung cancer among the patients attending Bhaktapur Cancer Care Center, Bhaktapur,Nepal. The study subjects consisted of 85 cases of lung cancer and a reference group of 40 cases of coloncancer. Demographic data and information about work history was obtained by a structured interview.Based on the occupational history, subjects were divided into exposed and non-exposed groups concerningcarcinogenic agents. Exposure prone occupations like agriculture, construction of buildings, construction ofroads and bridges, manufacturing, and transport were categorised as exposed occupations. Similarly,occupations like administrative services, business, student and housewives were categorised as non-exposed.Odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. Adjustmentsfor smoking habit, life long cigarette consumption (smoking pack year), alcohol habit, education level andage were done. The crude OR for the exposed workers was 5.59 (95% CI: 2.47,12.6). After adjustment forsmoking habit alone or for smoking habit, smoking pack year, alcohol habit, education level and age, theOR was 4.8 (95% CI: 2.02,11.4) and 4.2 (95% CI: 1.4,12.0), respectively.The study shows that for the exposed workers there was an increased risk of lung cancer. The risk wassignificantly increased also after adjusting for smoking habit, smoking pack year, alcohol habit, age andeducation level.Key Words: Lung Cancer, occupation, exposure, Nepal.
Highlights
Cancer is a worldwide public health problem and it accounts for an increasing proportion of all deaths
Lung cancer was the most frequent cancer in the world for males in 2000, with a total estimated number of about 900,000 new cases per year, 47.7% of which occurred in the developing countries
After adjustment for smoking habit alone and for smoking habit, alcohol habit, smoking pack year, education and age altogether the Odd ratio (OR) was 4.8 and 4.2, respectively
Summary
Cancer is a worldwide public health problem and it accounts for an increasing proportion of all deaths. Malignant diseases are the second most frequent cause of death in developed countries (21% of all deaths) after cardiovascular diseases. In developing countries, it accounts for 7% of all deaths. Of the 7.6 million of new cases of cancer occurring each year in the world, 4 million occur in the developing countries. The overall incidence is slightly higher in males than in females.[1] The most frequent cancer type among males in the developing countries is in the lungs, accounting for about 430,000 new cases in 2000 followed by stomach cancer (350,000 new cases in 2000). Lung cancer was the most frequent cancer in the world for males in 2000, with a total estimated number of about 900,000 new cases per year, 47.7% of which occurred in the developing countries. Lung cancer is 2.7 times less frequent among women
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
