Possible Occupational Lung Cancer in Nepal

The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between occupational exposures and the development of lung cancer among the patients attending Bhaktapur Cancer Care Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal. The study subjects consisted of 85 cases of lung cancer and a reference group of 40 cases of colon cancer. Demographic data and information about work history was obtained by a structured interview. Based on the occupational history, subjects were divided into exposed and non-exposed groups concerning carcinogenic agents. Exposure prone occupations like agriculture, construction of buildings, construction of roads and bridges, manufacturing, and transport were categorised as exposed occupations. Similarly, occupations like administrative services, business, student and housewives were categorised as non-exposed. Odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. Adjustments for smoking habit, life long cigarette consumption (smoking pack year), alcohol habit, education level and age were done. The crude OR for the exposed workers was 5.59 (95% CI: 2.47,12.6). After adjustment for smoking habit alone or for smoking habit, smoking pack year, alcohol habit, education level and age, the OR was 4.8 (95% CI: 2.02,11.4) and 4.2 (95% CI: 1.4,12.0), respectively. The study shows that for the exposed workers there was an increased risk of lung cancer. The risk was significantly increased also after adjusting for smoking habit, smoking pack year, alcohol habit, age and education level. * Section for Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. Address for correspondence : Dr. Sunil Kumar Joshi Lecturer, Kathmandu Medical College, Dept. of Community Medicine Email: [email protected]