Examining the Completeness of Industry and Occupation Data Among Patients Newly Diagnosed with Cancer in North Carolina

Abstract

Background Occupational exposure to toxic substances has been associated with cancer. Including industry and occupation (I/O) in cancer surveillance can help identify potential links between occupational exposures and cancers using data already collected to monitor statewide cancer trends. I/O reporting is required in cancer registries and recently in death records. In this study, we examined the completeness of I/O information in North Carolina cancer and death certificate data. Methods The North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (NC CCR) is the sole repository of North Carolina cancer incidence data. NC CCR (2020–2021) and death certificate data (2020–2022) were analyzed for completeness of I/O. NC CCR incidence records for 1995–2021 diagnoses were linked to North Carolina death files (2020–2022). Results NC CCR data had I/O in 17% to 51% of the cases, depending on cancer type. I/O was included in 41% of 2020 death certificates and increased to a 99.9% inclusion in 2021 and 2022 death certificates. In 2020, 20,018 (18%) of 109,677 total deaths matched with a cancer record during NC CCR data linkage. In 2021, 20,225 (16%) of 119,237 total deaths matched with a cancer record, and in 2022, 20,367 (17%) of 116,406 total deaths matched to a cancer record. Limitations Data presented here only examine the completeness of 10 cancer types that the NC CCR regularly analyzes using the most recent data available (2021). Conclusion Health care providers should routinely record I/O using the standards explained in the training for providers on I/O data collection, provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and should increase their frequency of reporting I/O to NC CCR. Death certificate data may provide I/O data for individuals whose information is missing from cancer registry data.