Occupational Risk Factors for Breast Cancer among Nurses.
A case-referent study nested in a cohort was used to evaluate occupational variables in the incidence of breast cancer among nurses. There were 59 cases and 118 randomly chosen referents. The participation rate was 97%. Odds ratios (ORs)and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)were calculated and the weights of potential confounding factors estimated by unconditional logistic regression. The odds ratio for breast cancer in a sister was 2.83 (95% CI 1.03-7.81). Specialization in pediatric, psychiatric, general (surgical and medical), geriatric, and primary care nursing, and "other kinds of nursing," gave an adjusted OR of 1.95 (95% CI 0.84-4.54). When working in different wards was accounted for, the highest adjusted ORs were found among nurses handling cytotoxic drugs, OR 1.65 (95% CI 0.53-5.17), and among pediatric nurses, OR 1.47 (95% CI 0.63-3.41); the lowest ORs were found among nurses in primary health care, OR 0.44 (95% CI 0.20-0.96). Analyses of the data stratified on age showed similar results. Occupational risks were not ascertained. Not only occupation but career-related life-styles should be taken into account in studies of health outcomes among working women.
Gunnarsdottir
HK
Department of Occupational Medicine, Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, Bildshoefdi 16, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Aspelund
T
Karlsson
T
Rafnsson
V