Risk factors for cancer among the working population in China: a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the WECAN project.

Abstract

This study aims to assess the prevalence of cancer risk factors in China's working population and provide evidence for formulating more targeted workplace cancer prevention strategies. A cross-sectional study utilising the baseline data from the Comprehensive Workplace Intervention for Cancer Prevention in China (WECAN) project, a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. 15 workplaces from three cities in China: Wuhai (Northern China), Nanchong (Western China) and Xiangtan (Southern China). A total of 841 participants (56 employees per workplace) were recruited through stratified sampling based on sex and work type. The prevalence of self-reported cancer risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity, unhealthy diet, betel quid chewing, exposure to harmful gases or substances, biological screening and vaccination. The study included 841 participants (mean age 40.5±8.9 years; 61.4% male, 57.4% blue-collar workers, 47.3% aged <40 years), with 36.4% reporting family cancer history. The reported cancer risks included smoking (36.9%, male-female OR=40.4 (95% CI 21.6 to 75.7)), alcohol consumption (63.6%, male-female OR=4.3 (95% CI 3.0 to 6.0)), physical inactivity (49.1%), central obesity (36.7%, male-female OR=3.2 (95% CI 2.3 to 4.5)), unhealthy diet (95.8% with two or more of six unhealthy dietary habits), betel quid chewing (18.8%, male-female OR=3.3 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.9), with 97.5% in Xiangtan), preference for hot foods (5.0%, older-younger OR=2.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 5.6)), household air pollution (7.0%, higher risk among lower-educated individuals), unprotected occupational exposure (6.1%, male-female OR=2.8 (95% CI 1.3 to 6.0), blue-white collar OR=2.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 4.5)), no screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (46.4%) and helicobacter pylori (54.9%), and unvaccinated against hepatitis B virus (28.1%) and human papillomavirus (63.5% among females≤45 years). Regional heterogeneity was observed for nearly all risk factors. The working population faces significant cancer risk factors, with variations across populations and regions highlighting the need for targeted interventions. ChiCTR2200058680.