Mortality and cancer incidence among physicians of traditional Chinese medicine: a 20-year national follow-up study. Issue 3 (11th March 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shu-Hui; Liu, Yu-Feng; Liou, Saou-Hsing; Lin, Yun-Lian; Hsiao, Yuen-Chen; Chen, Chu-Chieh; Li, Chung-Yi; Wu, Trong-Neng
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 67:Issue 3(2010)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2010-03-11
• Subjects: Cancer -- epidemiology -- herbal medicine -- liver -- liver neoplasms -- mortality studies -- physicians -- traditional Chinese medicine -- urinary bladder neoplasms; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.2009.050021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To study the risks of mortality and cancer incidence in physicians of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) who had frequent exposure to herbal medicine. Methods: A population-based cohort design was conducted in which a total of 7675 certified physicians of TCM who ever practised between 1985 and 2005 were compared with the age-, sex- and calendar year-specific mortalities and cancer incidence rates of the general population of Taiwan. The age-, sex- and calendar year-standardised mortality ratio (SMR) and standardised cancer incidence ratio (SIR) were calculated to estimate the relative risks of all causes and site-specific mortality and cancer incidence. Results: Over an up to 20-year observational period, 796 (10.4%) physicians of TCM died, and 279 (3.6%) developed cancer. The study cohort showed a significantly reduced SMR for all-causes mortality (68, 95% CI 63 to 73), and for deaths from infectious (SMR=64), circulatory (SMR=68), respiratory (SMR=64) and digestive (SMR=56) disease. The study cohort also had a significantly reduced SIR (80, 95% CI 71 to 90) for all cancers, and for neoplasm of rectum, rectosigmoid junction, and anus (SIR=45), female breast (SIR=30) and cervix uteri (SIR=10). On the other hand, we noted that physicians of TCM suffered from a significantly increased SIR for neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts (SIR=151, 95% CI 116 to 192) and of bladder cancer (SIR=259, 95% CI 167 to 382). Conclusion: Like other healthcare workers, we noted that physicians of TCM had significantly reduced risks of all-causes mortality and cancer incidence. Nonetheless, reasons truly responsible for significantly increased risks of liver and bladder neoplasm among physicians of TCM warrant further investigations.