Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry

ABSTRACT Background Limited data exist on occupational disparities in long‐term cancer mortality among the working‐age population in Japan. We examined occupational disparities in long‐term cancer survival, focusing on 10‐year survival outcomes among working‐age populations. Methods This retrospecti...

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Main Authors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Ichiro Kawachi, Masayoshi Zaitsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71020
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author Kazuhiko Watanabe
Ichiro Kawachi
Masayoshi Zaitsu
author_facet Kazuhiko Watanabe
Ichiro Kawachi
Masayoshi Zaitsu
author_sort Kazuhiko Watanabe
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Limited data exist on occupational disparities in long‐term cancer mortality among the working‐age population in Japan. We examined occupational disparities in long‐term cancer survival, focusing on 10‐year survival outcomes among working‐age populations. Methods This retrospective observational study used data from the Kanagawa Cancer Registry of 41,632 patients with cancer aged 20–65 years who were diagnosed between 1992 and 2015, with a 10‐year follow‐up. Patients were classified into four occupational classes based on their longest‐held occupations (upper nonmanual, lower nonmanual, manual, and primary industry). The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality, and cancer‐specific mortality was the secondary outcome. Poisson regression was used to estimate the mortality rate ratios (MRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each occupational class, adjusted for sex, age, and year of diagnosis. Additional analyses were performed for common cancer sites (stomach, lung, colorectal, and breast). Results MRRs for all‐cause mortality were higher in lower nonmanual (MRR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.10–1.18), manual (MRR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.32–1.43), and primary industry workers (MRR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.31) than in upper nonmanual workers (professional and managerial occupations). Similar patterns were observed across common cancer sites and cancer‐specific mortality. Adjusting for cancer stage and treatment attenuated these disparities but did not eliminate them, particularly among manual workers. Conclusions We observed occupational disparities in long‐term cancer mortality among working‐age populations in Japan, with manual workers experiencing worse survival outcomes. Promoting targeted interventions, healthy lifestyles, and early cancer detection for cancer survivors in the workplace are crucial for mitigating these disparities.
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spelling doaj-art-d2f3b4e6b2f248aca10c169da2b746e52025-08-20T02:54:53ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-07-011413n/an/a10.1002/cam4.71020Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer RegistryKazuhiko Watanabe0Ichiro Kawachi1Masayoshi Zaitsu2Center for Research of the Aging Workforce, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan Kitakyushu Fukuoka JapanDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston Massachusetts USACenter for Research of the Aging Workforce, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan Kitakyushu Fukuoka JapanABSTRACT Background Limited data exist on occupational disparities in long‐term cancer mortality among the working‐age population in Japan. We examined occupational disparities in long‐term cancer survival, focusing on 10‐year survival outcomes among working‐age populations. Methods This retrospective observational study used data from the Kanagawa Cancer Registry of 41,632 patients with cancer aged 20–65 years who were diagnosed between 1992 and 2015, with a 10‐year follow‐up. Patients were classified into four occupational classes based on their longest‐held occupations (upper nonmanual, lower nonmanual, manual, and primary industry). The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality, and cancer‐specific mortality was the secondary outcome. Poisson regression was used to estimate the mortality rate ratios (MRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each occupational class, adjusted for sex, age, and year of diagnosis. Additional analyses were performed for common cancer sites (stomach, lung, colorectal, and breast). Results MRRs for all‐cause mortality were higher in lower nonmanual (MRR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.10–1.18), manual (MRR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.32–1.43), and primary industry workers (MRR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.31) than in upper nonmanual workers (professional and managerial occupations). Similar patterns were observed across common cancer sites and cancer‐specific mortality. Adjusting for cancer stage and treatment attenuated these disparities but did not eliminate them, particularly among manual workers. Conclusions We observed occupational disparities in long‐term cancer mortality among working‐age populations in Japan, with manual workers experiencing worse survival outcomes. Promoting targeted interventions, healthy lifestyles, and early cancer detection for cancer survivors in the workplace are crucial for mitigating these disparities.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71020cancerdisparityoccupational classsurvival
spellingShingle Kazuhiko Watanabe
Ichiro Kawachi
Masayoshi Zaitsu
Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
Cancer Medicine
cancer
disparity
occupational class
survival
title Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
title_full Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
title_fullStr Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
title_full_unstemmed Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
title_short Occupational Disparities in Cancer Survival Among the Working Population in Japan: 10‐Year Survival Analysis Using the Kanagawa Cancer Registry
title_sort occupational disparities in cancer survival among the working population in japan 10 year survival analysis using the kanagawa cancer registry
topic cancer
disparity
occupational class
survival
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71020
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