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Risk of cancer among cardiologists who frequently perform percutaneous coronary interventions: a population-based
Tzu-Lung Ho1,2, Shwn-Huey Shieh3,4, Cheng-Li Lin2,5
1Department of Radiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
Cardiologists performing many percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) face higher cancer risks. Radiation protection in catheterization labs is crucial for these interventional cardiologists.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Occupational Health
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Cardiologists performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) experience significant radiation exposure.
- This exposure may elevate cancer risk compared to other physicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and cancer risk in cardiologists.
- To compare cancer incidence in cardiologists with a control group of internists.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2011).
- A cohort of 542 cardiologists was matched with non-cardiologist controls.
- Cox proportional hazards models analyzed cancer risk.
Main Results:
- Overall, cardiologists showed no increased cancer risk compared to other internists.
- Cardiologists in large hospitals performing >15 PCIs/year had higher cancer risk.
- Higher cancer risk was observed in large hospitals vs. smaller facilities.
Conclusions:
- Frequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performance is linked to increased cancer risk in cardiologists.
- Enhanced radiation protection measures are essential in cardiac catheterization laboratories.
Background:
Cardiologists who frequently perform percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are exposed to high levels of radiation; therefore, their risk of cancer may be higher compared with other internists or cardiologists who perform fewer PCIs.
Methods:
Data were obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2000-2011 period. A cohort of 542 cardiologists was randomly frequency-matched according to age and sex with four other internists to form a cohort of noncardiologist controls. The incidence of cancer was measured for both cohorts, who were followed up until the end of 2011. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyse the risk of cancer between cardiologist and control cohorts.
Results:
In general, the cardiologists did not have a higher risk of cancer compared with the other internists. However, the cardiologists who worked in medical centres or regional hospitals had a higher risk of cancer than did the other internists in the same work settings. Furthermore, the cardiologists working in medical centres or regional hospitals (large hospitals) who performed >15 PCIs per year had a higher risk of cancer than did those working in district hospitals (small hospitals) or clinics who performed ≤15 PCIs per year.
Conclusion:
Cardiologists who frequently perform PCIs have a higher risk of cancer compared with other internists or cardiologists who perform relatively fewer PCIs. Protection from radiation exposure should therefore be emphasized in coronary catheterization laboratories.
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