Análise dos riscos ocupacionais, uso de álcool e tabaco em pacientes com câncer de cabeça, pescoço e ou pulmão

Abstract

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, exposure to carcinogens in occupational environments contributes significantly to the global cancer burden, identifying it as a disease that can be related to work. Lung cancer, despite its strong relationship with smoking, is also related to several substances and occupational activities. So too, in the case of head and / or neck cancer, in addition to exposures to occupational risk factors, personal habits such as smoking and drinking are also considered of great relevance in the etiology of these tumors. Objective: To evaluate the work profile and the use of alcohol and tobacco among workers and their association with the occurrence of head, neck or lung cancer. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative, exploratory approach. Held at the Oncology Service of the Clinic Hospital form Federal University of Uberlândia. Sample comprised of 118 patients diagnosed with head, neck or lung cancer. The study participants were interviewed using a sociodemographic questionnaire as a data collection instrument and the Fagerstrom tests were applied to estimate the degree of nicotine dependence and the AUDIT test to identify problems related to alcohol consumption. Descriptive analyzes were performed by means of calculations of averages, percentage of variables, minimum values, maximum values, standard deviation, bivariate analysis of the data using parametric and / or parametric tests of association, correlation and comparison. The level of significance (p value) was 0.05 for all variables. Results: Regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of the studied population, there was a predominance of males (74.6%), low level of education (47.5% did not complete primary school) and 59.8% reported receiving only one minimum monthly salary. The average age found was 60 years. Information related to the disease showed that the most prevalent type of cancer was lung cancer (33.9%) followed by oropharyngeal cancer (21.2%). The most prevalent types of occupations or economic activities among lung cancer patients were rural work (10.2%) and activities related to cleaning and maintenance (4.2%). As for patients with head and neck cancer, bricklayer occupations (9.3%) and activities related to agriculture and animal husbandry were the most frequent. Regarding smoking, 8.4% reported smoking, with 30.21% showing a high degree of dependence according to the Fagerstrom test. Regarding alcohol consumption and consumption, 65.3% consumed alcoholic beverages and, according to the AUDIT test, they were characterized by low consumption. Conclusion: Although certain work activities occur more frequently in this study, it is concluded that it alone did not present a relevant risk for the occurrence of head, neck or lung cancer, the association with personal tobacco and alcohol consumption habits.

Keywords: Occupational Cancer. Smoking. Alcoholism.