Lung cancer and occupational exposure: hospital-based case-control study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between occupation and lung cancer in patients at a national referral hospital for cancer care in southern Brazil.

Method: Hospital-based case-control study conducted between February and October 2019. Occupational histories were coded according to international classifications and translated into occupations associated with lung cancer (List A and B). The odds ratios were adjusted for smoking, with a 95% confidence interval, calculated by conditional logistic regression.

Results: 99 cases and 227 controls were included. Among men, the occupation of painters (list A) was associated with lung cancer (OR = 14.3; 95% CI: 1.8-116.5), there were no occupations in list B associated with lung cancer. In women, no increased risks were found.

Conclusions: It has been shown that exposure to occupational carcinogens among repair and construction painters increases the risk of lung cancer.