Trace of Occupational History on Lung Cancer Patients

The relationship between occupation and risk of lung cancer was analyzed in hospital based case-control study conducted in Taegu on 168 patients with histologicatly confirmed lung cancer and age group (30-39, 40-49, etc) and sex frequency-matched 168 controls admitted into hospitals for other internal medicine problems. A self administered questionnaire was used to obtain occupation, resident environment, smoking histories and specific agent exposure histoy. The conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio for age group and sex frequency matched, after controlling for smoking status (non smoker, exsmoker, current smoker) Significant association was observed for farmer[odds ratio(OR), 1.84 , 95% confidence interval(CI), 1.16-2.94], briquette stove users(OR, 3.0 , 95% CI, 1.06-8.25), agricultural chemicals users[0R, 2.14 , 95% CI, 1.35-3.37], and welding/fume exposures[0R, 10.56 ;95% CI, 1.07~103.90]. Although there were elevated risks associated with production, home industry, transportation/storage/communication, lodgement/food worker and construction, none were statistically significant.The effect of smoking was showed significantly increased risk for exsmoker [0R, 4.50 ,95% CI, 1.99-10.16] and current smoker [OR, 3.98 , 95% Cl, 1.88-8.45] As results, although smoking is important risk of lung cancer, occupation and resident environment are showing association of lung cancer. So further evaluation is necessary for occupation risk and take preventive measures.