Mortality Risk After a Major Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Preoperative Exposure to Air Pollution: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine whether preoprerative exposure to air pollution is associated with mortality after a major cancer surgery. All patients who underwent major cancer surgeries after hospitalization between January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, were included. In total, 244,766 patients who underwent major cancer surgeries were included. Both 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide and 0.1-ppm increase in carbon monoxide were associated with a 7% increase in 90-day mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Furthermore, a 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide, 0.1 ppm increase in carbon monoxide, and 1 μg/m 3 increase in particulate matter 2.5 were associated with a 4%, 3%, and 1% increase in 1-year all-cause mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Preoperative exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients after major cancer surgery.