Cataract Risk in US Radiologic Technologists Assisting with Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander BH ; Balter S ; Borrego D ; Cahoon EK ; Freudenheim JL ; Gilbert ES ; Kitahara CM ; Linet MS ; Little MP ; Millen AE ; Miller DL ; Moysich KB ; Simon SL ; Velazquez-Kronen, Raquel ; Wactawski-Wende J
• Description:
  Objectives: To assess radiation exposure-related work history and risk of cataract and cataract surgery among radiologic technologists assisting with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures (FGIP). Methods: This retrospective study included 35 751 radiologic technologists who reported being cataract-free at baseline (1994-1998) and completed a follow-up questionnaire (2013-2014). Frequencies of assisting with 21 types of FGIP and use of radiation protection equipment during five time periods (before 1970, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009) were derived from an additional self-administered questionnaire in 2013-2014. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs) for self-reported cataract diagnosis and cataract surgery were estimated according to FGIP work history. Results: During follow-up, 9372 technologists reported incident physician-diagnosed cataract; 4278 of incident cases reported undergoing cataract surgery. Technologists who ever assisted with FGIP had increased risk for cataract compared with those who never assisted with FGIP (RR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.25). Risk increased with increasing cumulative number of FGIP; the RR for technologists who assisted with >5000 FGIP compared with those who never assisted was 1.38 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.53; p trend <0.001). These associations were more pronounced for FGIP when technologists were located ≤ 3 feet (≤ 0.9 m) from the patient compared with >3 feet (>0.9 m) (RRs for >5000 at ≤ 3 feet vs never FGIP were 1.48, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.74 and 1.15, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.35, respectively; pdifference=0.04). Similar risks, although not statistically significant, were observed for cataract surgery. Conclusion: Technologists who reported assisting with FGIP, particularly high-volume FGIP within 3 feet of the patient, had increased risk of incident cataract. Additional investigation should evaluate estimated dose response and medically validated cataract type. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cohort Studies Epidemiology Eye Health Personnel Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Radiation Safety Sense Organs
• Keywords:
  Cohort Studies Eye Disorders Eyes Health Care Workers Medical Personnel Occupational Exposure Radiology
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Minnesota ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  317-325
• Volume:
  76
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064530
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2019 May; 76(5):317-325
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Cari M Kitahara, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
• Email:
  kitaharac@mail.nih.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:368c25df25c7a2651e6538175f83b2c6b494593146246eea2b51e260761fc9e6eb889e368630caca22fe1a373a2a40d1c1b6695b10f32d58b3f858b704b57eb3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222977/cdc_222977_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 551.73 KB ]