Risk of cancer among cardiologists who frequently perform percutaneous coronary interventions: a population-based study.

Background: Cardiologists who frequently perform percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are exposed to high levels of radiation; therefore, their risk of cancer may be higher compared with other internists or cardiologists who perform fewer PCIs.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2000-2011 period. A cohort of 542 cardiologists was randomly frequency-matched according to age and sex with four other internists to form a cohort of noncardiologist controls. The incidence of cancer was measured for both cohorts, who were followed up until the end of 2011. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyse the risk of cancer between cardiologist and control cohorts.

Results: In general, the cardiologists did not have a higher risk of cancer compared with the other internists. However, the cardiologists who worked in medical centres or regional hospitals had a higher risk of cancer than did the other internists in the same work settings. Furthermore, the cardiologists working in medical centres or regional hospitals (large hospitals) who performed >15 PCIs per year had a higher risk of cancer than did those working in district hospitals (small hospitals) or clinics who performed ≤15 PCIs per year.

Conclusion: Cardiologists who frequently perform PCIs have a higher risk of cancer compared with other internists or cardiologists who perform relatively fewer PCIs. Protection from radiation exposure should therefore be emphasized in coronary catheterization laboratories.