Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Work-Related Factors and Lung Cancer Survival: A Population-Based Study in Switzerland (1990–2014)

Publication date2022-10-25
First online date2022-10-25
Abstract

While previous Swiss studies have demonstrated differences in lung cancer mortality between occupational groups, no estimates are available on the association of occupation-related factors with lung cancer survival. This study aimed at determining whether occupation or work-related factors after diagnosis affect lung cancer survival. We used cancer registry records to identify lung cancer patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2014 in western Switzerland (n = 5773) matched with the Swiss National Cohort. The effect of occupation, the skill level required for the occupation, and the socio-professional category on 5-year lung cancer survival was assessed using non-parametric and parametric methods, controlling for histological type and tumour stage. We found that the net survival varied across skill levels and that the lowest skill level was associated with worse survival in both men and women. In the parametric models with minimal adjustment, we identified several occupational groups at higher risk of mortality compared to the reference category, particularly among men. After adjustment for histological type of lung cancer and tumour stage at diagnosis, most hazard ratios remained higher than 1, though non-statistically significant. Compared to top managers and self-employed workers, workers in paid employment without specific information on occupation were identified as the most at-risk socio-professional category in nearly all models. As this study was conducted using a relatively small sample and limited set of covariates, further studies are required, taking into account smoking habits and administrated cancer treatments. Information on return to work and working conditions before and after lung cancer diagnosis will also be highly valuable for analysing their effect on net lung cancer survival in large nationwide or international studies. Such studies are essential for informing health and social protection systems, which should guarantee appropriate work conditions for cancer survivors, beneficial for their quality of life and survival.

Keywords
  • Net survival
  • Lung cancer
  • Occupation
  • Switzerland
  • Gender differences
  • Workers
Funding
  • Swiss Cancer Research Foundation and the Swiss Cancer League [FS-4699-02-2019]
Citation (ISO format)
BOVIO, Nicolas et al. Work-Related Factors and Lung Cancer Survival: A Population-Based Study in Switzerland (1990–2014). In: International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022, vol. 19, n° 21, p. 13856. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192113856
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/13856
Journal ISSN1660-4601
190views
159downloads

Technical informations

Creation26/10/2022 10:02:00
First validation26/10/2022 10:02:00
Update16/03/2023 08:38:14
Status update16/03/2023 08:38:13
Last indexation01/11/2024 03:13:19
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack