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Variation in the risk for liver and gallbladder cancers in socioeconomic and occupational groups in Sweden with etiological implications

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Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations between socioeconomic/occupational factors and liver cancer at various anatomic sites (including primary liver, gallbladder and other cancers). Methods: We carried out a follow-up study on the economically active Swedish population, based on the Swedish Family-Cancer Database. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in different social classes and occupations. Results: For primary liver cancer, farmers were at a decreased risk; increased risks were observed for male sales agents, journalists, seamen, waiters, cooks and female beverage manufacture workers. Similar patterns were observed for gallbladder cancer; workers employed as journalists, sales agents, cooks and stewards, and public safety workers showed increased risk. Only male transport workers showed increased risk of cancers in other parts. Conclusions: Occupations with high consumption of alcohol and/or high prevalence of smoking associated with a risk of liver and gallbladder cancers. The present study suggests that the effects of socioeconomic factors on liver cancer of different subsites are similar; alcohol drinking is a risk factor of gallbladder cancer because of the covariation of primary liver and gallbladder cancers in occupational groups.

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Acknowledgements

The Family-Cancer Database was created by linking registers maintained at Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Cancer Registry. The study was supported by the Swedish Cancer Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience at Novum, Karolinska Institutet, 14157, Huddinge, Sweden

    Jianguang Ji & Kari Hemminki

  2. Division of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Kari Hemminki

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  1. Jianguang Ji
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  2. Kari Hemminki
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Correspondence to Jianguang Ji.

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Ji, J., Hemminki, K. Variation in the risk for liver and gallbladder cancers in socioeconomic and occupational groups in Sweden with etiological implications. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 641–649 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0015-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0015-1

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