Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea
Abstract Background Radiation exposure may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence regarding low-dose exposure remains scarce. This study investigated the link between occupational radiation exposure and MetS incidence among Korean radiation workers. Methods We analyzed a n...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23543-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849389147922366464 |
|---|---|
| author | Eunbi Noh Songwon Seo Dalnim Lee Eun Shil Cha Minsu Cho Won Il Jang Eun Woo Nam |
| author_facet | Eunbi Noh Songwon Seo Dalnim Lee Eun Shil Cha Minsu Cho Won Il Jang Eun Woo Nam |
| author_sort | Eunbi Noh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Radiation exposure may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence regarding low-dose exposure remains scarce. This study investigated the link between occupational radiation exposure and MetS incidence among Korean radiation workers. Methods We analyzed a national cohort of 129,802 Korean radiation workers enrolled in the National Dose Registry between 1984 and 2017, with follow-up based on a linked National Health Information Database. MetS was defined according to the criteria of the American Heart Association, as adapted by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated to compare the incidence of MetS between radiation workers and the general population. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks and excess relative risks by radiation dose, after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results Of the 129,802 workers, 40,369 (31.1%) developed MetS. The standardized incidence ratio was 0.85 [95% confidence interval: 0.84, 0.86], indicating a lower incidence than that in the general population; however, non-destructive testing workers with poor lifestyle factors had a relatively higher risk of MetS than those in other occupations. Across the cohort, an increased risk of MetS associated with radiation doses was not observed with adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, while it varied depending on sex, lag periods, and duration of employment. Conclusions Overall, low MetS risk was observed among radiation workers. However, outdoor field workers frequently exposed to elevated levels of radiation should minimize high-risk behaviors—such as smoking and alcohol consumption, known risk factors for MetS or other occupational diseases. Further study is needed to investigate a more sophisticated dose–response association with the incidence of Mets through long-term follow-up, considering relevant organ dose and a latent period as well as pre-existing components of MetS before radiation exposure. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6f0c30cae1740b2bf9aabdc870bc4f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6f0c30cae1740b2bf9aabdc870bc4f32025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23543-0Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in KoreaEunbi Noh0Songwon Seo1Dalnim Lee2Eun Shil Cha3Minsu Cho4Won Il Jang5Eun Woo Nam6National Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesNational Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesNational Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesNational Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesNational Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesNational Radiation Emergency Medical Centre, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Administration, College of Health Science, Yonsei UniversityAbstract Background Radiation exposure may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence regarding low-dose exposure remains scarce. This study investigated the link between occupational radiation exposure and MetS incidence among Korean radiation workers. Methods We analyzed a national cohort of 129,802 Korean radiation workers enrolled in the National Dose Registry between 1984 and 2017, with follow-up based on a linked National Health Information Database. MetS was defined according to the criteria of the American Heart Association, as adapted by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated to compare the incidence of MetS between radiation workers and the general population. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks and excess relative risks by radiation dose, after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results Of the 129,802 workers, 40,369 (31.1%) developed MetS. The standardized incidence ratio was 0.85 [95% confidence interval: 0.84, 0.86], indicating a lower incidence than that in the general population; however, non-destructive testing workers with poor lifestyle factors had a relatively higher risk of MetS than those in other occupations. Across the cohort, an increased risk of MetS associated with radiation doses was not observed with adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, while it varied depending on sex, lag periods, and duration of employment. Conclusions Overall, low MetS risk was observed among radiation workers. However, outdoor field workers frequently exposed to elevated levels of radiation should minimize high-risk behaviors—such as smoking and alcohol consumption, known risk factors for MetS or other occupational diseases. Further study is needed to investigate a more sophisticated dose–response association with the incidence of Mets through long-term follow-up, considering relevant organ dose and a latent period as well as pre-existing components of MetS before radiation exposure.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23543-0Metabolic abnormalitiesRisk factorsPreventionRadiation exposure |
| spellingShingle | Eunbi Noh Songwon Seo Dalnim Lee Eun Shil Cha Minsu Cho Won Il Jang Eun Woo Nam Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea BMC Public Health Metabolic abnormalities Risk factors Prevention Radiation exposure |
| title | Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea |
| title_full | Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea |
| title_fullStr | Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea |
| title_short | Incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation: a national cohort study in Korea |
| title_sort | incidence of metabolic syndrome among radiation workers exposed to low dose radiation a national cohort study in korea |
| topic | Metabolic abnormalities Risk factors Prevention Radiation exposure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23543-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eunbinoh incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT songwonseo incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT dalnimlee incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT eunshilcha incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT minsucho incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT woniljang incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea AT eunwoonam incidenceofmetabolicsyndromeamongradiationworkersexposedtolowdoseradiationanationalcohortstudyinkorea |