Mortality risk after a major cancer surgery is associated with preoperative exposure to air pollution: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea

Abstract

Abstract Objective To examine whether preoprerative exposure to air pollution is associated with mortality after a major cancer surgery. Methods All patients who underwent major cancer surgeries after hospitalization between 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020 were included. Results In total, 244,766 patients who underwent major cancer surgeries were included. Both 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 0.1-ppm increase in carbon monoxide (CO) were associated with a 7% increase in 90-day mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Furthermore, a 0.001-ppm increase in SO2, 0.1 ppm increase in CO, and 1 mcg/m3 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. Conclusions Preoperative exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients after major cancer surgery.