Lung Cancer Risk in Female School Cooks: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study in the Republic of Korea

IF 3.5 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Safety and Health at Work Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI:10.1016/j.shaw.2025.01.002

Jungwon Jang , Eun Mi Kim , Jaiyong Kim , Jeehee Min , Inah Kim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Exposure to cooking fumes exposure likely increases the lung cancer risk in school cooks, but research on the incidence of lung cancer in school cooks is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to examine a nationwide cohort of school cooks for lung cancer by linking three Korean social insurance databases to determine whether working as a school cook increases lung cancer risk.

Methods

A nationwide retrospective cohort of school cooks and clerks with lung cancer was established by linking Employment Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, and National Health Insurance Service databases. Covariates were matched using 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) for school cooks and clerks. Age-standardized incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) for lung cancer were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Fine–Gray subdistribution HRs were used for sensitivity analysis. After further categorization into never- and ever-smoked subcohorts, the same analyses were performed.

Results

Post PSM, we identified 76 cases of lung cancer in school cooks during 259,819 person-years of follow-up. The age-standardized incidence was 199.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 120.7–278.9) and 166.8 (95% CI: 95.8–237.7) for school cooks and clerks, respectively. The subdistribution HR for school cooks post PSM was 1.72 (95% CI: 1.14–2.60). In the never-smoked subcohort, the subdistribution HR for school cooks post PSM was 4.23 (95% CI: 2.36–7.58).

Conclusion

School cooks were at an elevated risk of developing lung cancer, likely due to exposure to cooking fumes, highlighting the need for improved ventilation and preventive measures in school kitchens to reduce lung cancer risk.

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来源期刊

Safety and Health at Work Social Sciences-Safety Research

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1080

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.