To compare the risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) cancer according to industrial groups, we performed a retrospective cohort study using the database of the Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). We calculated the age-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the types of GI cancers according to the Korean Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC) compared with the whole employee population. The highest SIR for all GI cancer was found in the "Mining and quarrying" section (SIR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.14-1.47), followed by the "Transportation and storage" section (SIR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.24-1.30). Miners and quarriers had the highest risk of developing gastric cancer (SIR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06-1.55) and cancer of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts (SIR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.17-1.86). Transportation workers had the highest SIR of cancer of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx (SIR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43) and cancers of the rectum, anus, and anal canal (SIR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.19-1.35). There were distinct GI cancers with an elevated risk in each industry group. Our findings imply that distinct cancer prevention programs should be developed for each industrial sector.
Keywords: cancer; cancer incidence; gastrointestinal cancer; occupation; standardized incidence ratios; the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities.